The Portland Trail Blazers have three players ruled out for their Feb. 24 matchup against the Utah Jazz: Robert Williams III (left knee soreness), Deandre Ayton (left calf strain), and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain). Unfortunately, it wouldn't be surprising if all three players remain out beyond their game against Utah.
Thybulle has yet to play a game in 2024-25, and Ayton is set to be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks. Williams played 25 minutes in Portland's loss to the Lakers on Feb. 20 but now will miss his second consecutive game with swelling in his left knee.
Robert Williams III is dealing with left knee swelling
Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report notes that the Blazers aren't sure whether this is a long-term issue but are being cautious with his return.
Robert Williams III is out. Chauncey Billups says he had some swelling in his left knee. Doesn’t know if it’s long-term or not but they’re being careful with him.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) February 23, 2025
This particular injury may or may not be a long-term issue. However, the harsh reality is that Williams' injury-proneness is a long-term issue in general.
He's played over 35 games in just two of his past six seasons and may not exceed that this year, either. Currently, Williams is at 20 games played, with just 25 games remaining this season.
He played just six games with Portland last season before undergoing season-ending surgery for a torn ligament in his right knee. The soreness is in his left knee, but during his time in Boston, he underwent two surgeries on that same knee.
This season, the Blazers big man is averaging 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 17.6 minutes. He's been impactful when on the court, but availability has always been the most significant issue throughout his NBA career, as he's had an extensive injury history.
Blazers may have missed their chance to trade Williams at peak value
Williams proved to teams that he was healthy before the trade deadline, making him one of the most coveted centers on the market. Still, GM Joe Cronin chose to stand pat, leaving their center logjam as an unresolved issue that needs to be addressed this summer.
Williams' knee concerns could be an ongoing problem that lowers his trade value. But the fact that they kept him beyond the trade deadline despite having value makes it seem as though they want to keep the duo of Donovan Clingan and Williams intact, which would make Deandre Ayton the odd man out.
It would be one thing if the Blazers' timeline aligned with the 27-year-old Williams and they were ready to make a deep playoff push. But the fact that they took on this unnecessary gamble while having slim odds of even making the play-in tournament makes this a head-scratching decision.
The latest injury update surrounding Williams is unfortunate, but the fact that no one is surprised in the slightest goes to show why the Blazers should have offloaded a ticking time bomb when they had the golden opportunity to do so at peak value.