Robert Williams III had a resurgent season with the Portland Trail Blazers, proving his value as he was finally able to stay on the court. His performance, particularly in the first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, underscored why keeping Williams should be Portland's top priority this summer.
Outside of their head coaching hire, retaining Time Lord is the next obvious move for the Blazers' front office. He is eligible for a contract extension through June 30, and can sign up to a four-year, $87 million deal.
ESPN's Bobby Marks has Williams ranked as the No. 9 unrestricted free agent, adding he would sign the big man to a three-year, $42 million contract, but with an injury protection or games played clause.
Blazers can't afford to lose Robert Williams to a West rival
Along with Portland, other best fits Marks names include Boston, Atlanta, and the LA Clippers. However, Marks also recently mentioned the LA Lakers as another possible landing spot, highlighting his potential fit alongside Luka Doncic, and his ability to relatively contain Victor Wembanyama in the postseason.
"The one name that picked up the most buzz, a lot of teams in Chicago last week, was Robert Williams," Marks said. "That's the name. You have to be cautious with that because of his game's availability, the minutes. That's the one guy, I don't want to say neutralized Victor Wembanyama, but I think guarded him, probably one of the best, certainly in the playoffs, in the first round. That would be the guy. He's probably one of the top unrestricted free agent centers out there. I think he gives you that shot blocker, that rim protector, that guy that can lob threat for Luka Doncic."
Marks suggests a $12-$13 million range for Williams, saying that would be the name he'd be targeting in free agency for the Lakers.
Williams may not be a stretch five, but he has the skills and physical tools to thrive in the modern NBA, particularly when it comes to his defensive versatility out on the perimeter. That was on full display in the playoff series against Wembanyama and the three-point-heavy Spurs, where Williams genuinely outplayed Donovan Clingan throughout the series.
If it wasn't already apparent through Williams' regular-season performance, the playoffs solidified just how valuable he is to Portland's roster as arguably the best backup big man in the entire league. With the uncertainty surrounding their Yang Hansen draft gamble and Clingan's one-dimensionality as a drop coverage big, Williams gives the Blazers another dimension and much-needed depth in the frontcourt.
The double-edged sword is that he'll be a popular free agency target, as evidenced by Mark's rankings and recent comments. But the good news is that Portland is in the driver's seat, as they still have roughly one month to extend him.
What was previously a polarizing decision has quickly become a no-brainer: the Blazers need Williams to stick around in Rip City. They certainly can't afford to let him go to a West rival like the Clippers or Lakers.
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