{"id":196958,"date":"2026-05-25T15:57:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T19:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=196958"},"modified":"2026-05-25T15:57:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T19:57:51","slug":"blazers-big-man-ufa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/25\/blazers-big-man-ufa\/","title":{"rendered":"Trail Blazers Big Man Expected To Gain A Lot Of Interest On Open Market, Lakers and Celtics Among Potential Suitors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/trailblazers\/\" target=\"_self\">Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> 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 <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/williro04.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Robert Williams III<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Trail Blazers Big Man Expected to Get a Lot of Interest on the Open Market<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBCCxL3wJX\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3072px; aspect-ratio: 3072\/2047;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The one name that picked up the most buzz, a lot of teams in Chicago last week, was Robert Williams<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pum9iYXRBF4&amp;t=529s\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">, Marks said on ESPN&#8217;s Los Angeles Kap and Sedano Radio Show<\/a> about Williams fit with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/lakers\/\" target=\"_self\">Lakers.<\/a> <span>\u00a0That&#8217;s the name. You have to be cautious with that because of his game availability and minutes. That&#8217;s the one guy, I don&#8217;t want to say neutralized <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wembavi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, but I think guarded him, probably one of the best, certainly in the playoffs, in the first round. That would be the guy. \u00a0I think he gives you that shot blocker, that rim protector, that guy that can lob threat for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Doncic<\/a>. Now the question is, the cost? What&#8217;s the cost? Is it $1 million or $13 million? I think that&#8217;s kind of where his range is, but there&#8217;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.&#8221;<\/span><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pum9iYXRBF4\" title=\"ESPN Front Office Insider on How Lakers Roster Can Compete with Thunder and Spurs - Sedano &amp; Kap\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Analyzing Potential Suitors For Robert Williams<\/h2>\n<p>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.\u00a0 The Trail Blazers could also make a pitch to keep him.<\/p>\n<p>Wherever Williams lands, he won&#8217;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.\u00a0 Besides his defense, he is an outstanding rebounder on both ends and was one of the Trail Blazers&#8217; most consistent players during the regular season and playoffs.<\/p>\n<h3>Portland Trail Blazers<\/h3>\n<p>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. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/krejcvi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vit Krejci<\/a>&#8216;s deal ($2.66 million) isn&#8217;t fully guaranteed until Opening night, while <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cissosi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sidy Cissoko<\/a>&#8216;s contract, $2.49 million, guarantees on July 15.<\/p>\n<p>Portland could use a backup center behind <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clingdo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donovan Clingan<\/a>, as<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/y\/yangha01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Yang Henson<\/a> still has work to do to be an NBA player. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holidjr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jrue Holiday<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grantje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jerami Grant<\/a> are potential trade candidates.<\/p>\n<h4>Los Angeles Lakers<\/h4>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOB6IfPhIbZ\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3335px; aspect-ratio: 3335\/2224;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<p>The<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/14\/major-changes-ahead-for-the-lakers\/\" target=\"_self\"> Lakers also have a lot to figure out<\/a>, but they project to have the third most cap space available this summer. The Lakers need to upgrade their frontcourt. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/aytonde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Deandre Ayton<\/a> has a player option, and<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/aytonde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Jaxson Hayes i<\/a>s 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 &#8212; not named <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Boston Celtics<\/h4>\n<p>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&#8217;s draft. The C&#8217;s may try to mix things up by pursuing <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Boston does need to upgrade their center position. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/q\/quetane01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Neemais Queta<\/a> had a fantastic career season, though he is not necessarily an NBA starter. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vucevni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Vucevic<\/a> is an unrestricted free agent, and<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/garzalu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Luka Garza <\/a>is not a rim protector. Meanwhile, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/william01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0Amari Williams <\/a>is still in the developmental stage of his professional career and owns a nonguaranteed deal.<\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cOne of the things that we\u2019ve 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,\u201d <a  href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/could-robert-williams-reunion-help-121534942.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Celtics\u00a0president of basketball operations Brad Stevens<\/a> said in his end-of-season press conference earlier this month.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Celtics project to have the league&#8217;s $15 million non-taxpayer exemption that could be used on Williams.<\/p>\n<h4>Los Angeles Clippers<\/h4>\n<p>The Clippers have major decisions ahead of them as well. Will the Clippers go full-rebuild and trade <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leonaka01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a>? Regardless, the Clippers, who have 13 players under contract, have considerable flexibility. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bogdabo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bogdan Bogdanovic<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lopezbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brook Lopez<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/batumni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nicolas Batum<\/a> have team options.<\/p>\n<p>Even if the Clippers decide to keep Lopez, they will need to add to the frontcourt as Batum and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/collijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Collins<\/a> don&#8217;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&#8217;s draft along with the 36th and 52nd selections.<\/p>\n<h4>Chicago Bulls<\/h4>\n<p>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&#8217;s draft.\u00a0 Jalen Smith is the only center and one of three bigs on the roster, with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willipa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Williams<\/a> and<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/essenno01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Noa Essengue<\/a> being the others.<\/p>\n<h4>Brooklyn Nets<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/nets\/\" target=\"_self\">Brooklyn<\/a> projects to have around $42 million of cap space despite having 13 players under contract. The Nets could free up more cap space, as <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willizi02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ziaire Williams<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sharpda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Day&#8217;Ron Sharpe<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/minotjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Minott<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithma02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malachi Smith<\/a> hold nonguaranteed deals.\u00a0<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/portemi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Michael Porter Jr.<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/claxtni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nic Claxton<\/a> are trade candidates. They own the No. 6, 33rd, and 43rd selections in the upcoming June draft.<\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0Photo credit: Scott Wachter, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":197416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,6,8,2,27,26,62,3,23],"tags":[4390,306,239,1133,1223,297,4613,4669],"class_list":["post-196958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-nets","category-bulls","category-featured","category-clippers","category-lakers","category-nba","category-news","category-trailblazers","tag-dayron-sharpe","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-luka-doncic","tag-michael-porter-jr","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-robert-williams-iii","tag-victor-wembanyama"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196958"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197424,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196958\/revisions\/197424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/197416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}