Ranking 5 Portland Trail Blazers most likely to be traded next
By Reese Kunz
3. Robert Williams III
Robert Williams III is one of the more challenging players to predict if and when he will get traded from Portland. On the one hand, Williams is a likely trade candidate, given the fact that the Blazers now have four centers after selecting Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Williams is an elite defensive anchor when healthy due to his rim protection and versatility, and he could be an intriguing player for teams in need of a center.
On the other, his trade value is likely relatively low as teams are skeptical of his inability to stay healthy. The Blazers likely should have flipped Williams immediately after acquiring him from the Celtics as part of the Jrue Holiday trade. However, now that it's too late, they could be better off holding on to see if Williams can stay healthy and increase his trade value as a result.
If the Blazers don't feel confident in Williams' ability to remain on the court, they could still decide to ship him this summer before his trade value becomes even lower. General manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers will have to decide whether to sell low on Williams this summer or take the gamble, hoping he will increase his value by staying on the court, at least until the trade deadline.