We're less than a month away from the start of the 2025-26 regular season, yet the Portland Trail Blazers already have a clear trade candidate in Robert Williams III.
After the consecutive first-round selections of Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, Williams should officially be considered expendable for the Blazers. Add in the fact that he's on an expiring deal, and it makes sense for Portland to move the Texas A&M product by February's trade deadline, at the latest.
Robert Williams III is officially expendable
Williams was also considered a trade candidate last season, with talks surrounding Portland potentially receiving multiple second-round picks for their big man. A deal never materialized as the Blazers valued the two-way impact of Williams more than what he was worth on the market, making them one of the only teams not to make a single trade at the deadline.
With Hansen now in the equation and Portland wanting to preserve financial flexibility, things seem different this time around.
Unfortunately, Williams suffered yet another injury after the Blazers decided to hold onto him past last season's deadline. It's easy to see why Portland values him highly -- he's a perfect fit for their defensive identity. However, the harsh reality is that Williams' injury history makes him unreliable. He's played a total of 26 games in two seasons with the Blazers and frequently sits out back-to-backs. Not to mention, Williams won't even have a considerable role when he does play.
Portland should experiment with a double big lineup, but they'll likely find out that Clingan and Hansen can't effectively play alongside each other due to their limitations as floor spacers and perimeter defenders. If that is the case, minutes will be hard for Williams to come by, as he's the clear-cut third center option on Portland's depth chart.
Williams has proven he's still capable of being a difference maker in limited stretches. But that's a luxury that the Blazers don't necessarily need, considering the roster holes they have on the offensive end with their inefficient shooting and lack of playmaking. Williams should be the odd man out in order for Portland to better balance its roster.
The Blazers must take a similar approach to last season, building up Williams' trade value by proving to teams he's impactful and healthy. This time around, look for them to actually move Williams. He's not reliable enough for the Blazers to continue investing in him beyond the deadline, especially given their sudden premium at the position.