The Portland Trail Blazers have many decisions to make this offseason as they look to build on this past season. As a result, one player who may not be back in a Blazers uniform is Robert Williams III.
Trail Blazers Big Man Expected to Get a Lot of Interest on the Open Market
Williams is an unrestricted free agent this summer. The injury-prone 6-9 big averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 59 games this past season. He posted five double-doubles while compiling shooting splits of 70.8/39.1/59.6.
Williams has dealt with a variety of injuries throughout his career, though his chronic knee issues are a big concern. Williams has appeared in just 120 games over the last four seasons. He has played in 50+ games in only three of his eight seasons.
Still, Williams is slated to be a hot commodity on the open market this summer, as he is a high-impact rim protector and defensive anchor. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Williams at the NBA combine.
“The one name that picked up the most buzz, a lot of teams in Chicago last week, was Robert Williams, Marks said on ESPN’s Los Angeles Kap and Sedano Radio Show about Williams fit with the Lakers. That’s the name. You have to be cautious with that because of his game availability and 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. I think he gives you that shot blocker, that rim protector, that guy that can lob threat for Luka Doncic. Now the question is, the cost? What’s the cost? Is it $1 million or $13 million? I think that’s kind of where his range is, but there’ll be other teams that also see that. There are teams out there, certainly Atlanta, Boston, and the Clippers are teams that have money to spend. But that would be the one guy if I could circle in free agency on your wish list, that would be the guy.”
Analyzing Potential Suitors For Robert Williams
There is a lot to figure out this summer, and Williams is a huge question mark due to his injury history. But, he is likely to garner interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and perhaps the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls. The Trail Blazers could also make a pitch to keep him.
Wherever Williams lands, he won’t be a starter. He projects as a 20-minute player off the bench, with limited offensive upside. Despite his knee issues, he still has elite vertical pop and is an excellent finisher at the rim. Besides his defense, he is an outstanding rebounder on both ends and was one of the Trail Blazers’ most consistent players during the regular season and playoffs.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland holds Williams Bird rights. The Blazers are projected to be over the cap at the beginning of the offseason, with 12 players under contract and a salary cap hit of $169.9 million. Vit Krejci‘s deal ($2.66 million) isn’t fully guaranteed until Opening night, while Sidy Cissoko‘s contract, $2.49 million, guarantees on July 15.
Portland could use a backup center behind Donovan Clingan, as Yang Henson still has work to do to be an NBA player. Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant are potential trade candidates.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers also have a lot to figure out, but they project to have the third most cap space available this summer. The Lakers need to upgrade their frontcourt. Deandre Ayton has a player option, and Jaxson Hayes is an unrestricted free agent. If both players return, Jared Vanderbilt is the most likely to be moved in order for the Lakers to sign a frontcourt player — not named LeBron James.
Boston Celtics
Boston has 14 players under contract with a salary cap hit of $187.7 million, though they do have considerable flexibility, with six players on nonguaranteed deals. The Celtics own the No. 27 and No. 40 picks in this year’s draft. The C’s may try to mix things up by pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Boston does need to upgrade their center position. Neemais Queta had a fantastic career season, though he is not necessarily an NBA starter. Nikola Vucevic is an unrestricted free agent, and Luka Garza is not a rim protector. Meanwhile, Amari Williams is still in the developmental stage of his professional career and owns a nonguaranteed deal.
“One of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in his end-of-season press conference earlier this month.
The Celtics project to have the league’s $15 million non-taxpayer exemption that could be used on Williams.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have major decisions ahead of them as well. Will the Clippers go full-rebuild and trade Kawhi Leonard? Regardless, the Clippers, who have 13 players under contract, have considerable flexibility. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Brook Lopez, and Nicolas Batum have team options.
Even if the Clippers decide to keep Lopez, they will need to add to the frontcourt as Batum and John Collins don’t figure to return. The Clippers could have considerable cap space at the beginning of the summer. They own the No. 5 pick in June’s draft along with the 36th and 52nd selections.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is projected to have $70 million in cap space, with 10 players under contract. The Bulls own the No. 4 and No. 15 picks in June’s draft. Jalen Smith is the only center and one of three bigs on the roster, with Patrick Williams and Noa Essengue being the others.
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn projects to have around $42 million of cap space despite having 13 players under contract. The Nets could free up more cap space, as Ziaire Williams, Day’Ron Sharpe, Josh Minott, and Malachi Smith hold nonguaranteed deals. Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton are trade candidates. They own the No. 6, 33rd, and 43rd selections in the upcoming June draft.
Photo credit: Scott Wachter, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
