Robert Williams III endured another season filled with setbacks as he completed his second year with the Trail Blazers. The big man had a positive update as he needed season-ending left knee surgery in March, rehabbing the latest injury.
“Feeling good,” Williams said at his end-of-season availability last month. “Going day-by-day. Got three weeks under my belt after surgery. Checking off the milestones and just running and stuff like that. Looking forward to getting back on the court.”
Williams played in just 20 games during the 2024-25 season due to a mix of injuries. There were also two other big men on the roster in Deandre Ayton plus first-round pick Donovan Clingan, so there were only so many minutes to go around. Plus, the Blazers didn’t lean heavily on Williams due to his track record of injuries.
It’ll be an interesting offseason in Portland when it comes to Williams’ future. He has one year and $13.3 million left on his contract. Williams doesn’t figure into Portland’s long-term outlook at this point, so the team will likely elect to move him. The big man was heavily in trade rumors last season, though the Blazers seemingly didn’t find a deal worth making at the time.
This summer, Williams will likely be in trade rumors once again. There are plenty of teams that can use the talented big man who’s a game-changer when on the court. But Williams has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, partially why the C’s elected to move on from him in the Jrue Holiday deal.
Williams played in just six games in the 2023-24 season, his first year in Portland, due to a different season-ending right knee surgery. The big man turns 28 at the start of next season, so while he’s not exactly old, the injuries are starting to pile up. So that will be a crucial factor teams will consider when potentially negotiating for Williams.
“It was tough going down,” Williams said. “You gotta use these opportunities just to fix yourself all-around. Look at this as a chance to fix my body all-around, stuff I might not get to do during the season. Focus on ankles, hips, anything that might add onto the problem that I have with my knee. It’s just tough seeing your teammates play, having a great time. You’re not out there being a part of it.”