Robert Williams III, Blazers Agree to New Contract -OR-- Robert Williams III Traded to TEAM X Follow

Robert Williams III, Blazers Agree to New Contract

The Portland Trail Blazers wanted to make sure Robert Williams III wasn't going anywhere for a long, long time.

The team and veteran center agreed to a X-year, $XX.X million extension on XDAY, according to SOURCE, a deal that will keep him in Portland through the 20XX-2X campaign.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND REACTION

It was a major vote of confidence for player who only appeared in a grand total of 85 games for the Blazers in his first threes seasons with the team after being part of the Jrue Holiday trade with the Boston Celtics three years ago.

There's no doubt that he's a promising rim-runner and defensive playmaker, averaging 1.6 blocks per game in his career. But injuries limited him to just 294 games in his first eight NBA seasons, or an average of just 36.7 games per campaign.

There was also the small matter of the Blazers having Deandre Ayton on the roster, though his buyout last summer rectified that situation.

But the Blazers drafted another center in Donovan Clingan two summers ago at No. 7 overall and big man Yang Hansen at No. 16 last year, fueling speculation that a player like Williams could ultimately be dealt.

The Blazers are an interesting team, with players on the roster who currently on various different timelines. Jerami Grant is 32 and doesn't seem to fit into the current group's trajectory. Ditto for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, both 36. On the other end of the spectrum are players like Scoot Henderson (22), Shaedon Sharpe (23) and Clingan (22) and Deni Avdija (25).

Then there are players firmly in-between and hitting their prime years, like Williams (28).

At some point, the Blazers are probably going to have to pick a group to truly build around. Re-signing Williams to an extension was a clue as to the direction they'll go.

Robert Williams III Traded to TEAM X Following Blazers Contract Rumors

The Portland Trail Blazers wanted to make sure Robert Williams III wasn't going anywhere for a long, long time.

The team and veteran center agreed to a X-year, $XX.X million extension on XDAY, according to SOURCE, a deal that will keep him in Portland through the 20XX-2X campaign.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND REACTION

It was a major vote of confidence for player who only appeared in a grand total of 85 games for the Blazers in his first threes seasons with the team after being part of the Jrue Holiday trade with the Boston Celtics three years ago.

There's no doubt that he's a promising rim-runner and defensive playmaker, averaging 1.6 blocks per game in his career. But injuries limited him to just 294 games in his first eight NBA seasons, or an average of just 36.7 games per campaign.

There was also the small matter of the Blazers having Deandre Ayton on the roster, though his buyout last summer rectified that situation.

But the Blazers drafted another center in Donovan Clingan two summers ago at No. 7 overall and big man Yang Hansen at No. 16 last year, fueling speculation that a player like Williams could ultimately be dealt.

The Blazers are an interesting team, with players on the roster who currently on various different timelines. Jerami Grant is 32 and doesn't seem to fit into the current group's trajectory. Ditto for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, both 36. On the other end of the spectrum are players like Scoot Henderson (22), Shaedon Sharpe (23) and Clingan (22) and Deni Avdija (25).

Then there are players firmly in-between and hitting their prime years, like Williams (28).

At some point, the Blazers are probably going to have to pick a group to truly build around. Trading Williams is a clue as to the direction they are headed.

Robert Williams III Agrees to Contract with TEAM (hed TBD)

Robert Williams III is on the move.

The veteran center signed with TEAM to a X-year, $XX.X million extension on XDAY, according to SOURCE.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND REACTION

It was a major vote of confidence for player who only appeared in a grand total of 85 games for the Portland Trail Blazers in his first threes seasons with the team after being part of the Jrue Holiday trade with the Boston Celtics three years ago.

There's no doubt that he's a promising rim-runner and defensive playmaker, averaging 1.6 blocks per game in his career. But injuries limited him to just 294 games in his first eight NBA seasons, or an average of just 36.7 games per campaign.

There was also the small matter of the Blazers having Deandre Ayton on the roster, though his buyout last summer rectified that situation.

But the Blazers drafted another center in Donovan Clingan two summers ago at No. 7 overall and big man Yang Hansen at No. 16 last year, fueling speculation that a player like Williams could ultimately be dealt.

The Blazers are an interesting team, with players on the roster who currently on various different timelines. Jerami Grant is 32 and doesn't seem to fit into the current group's trajectory. Ditto for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, both 36. On the other end of the spectrum are players like Scoot Henderson (22), Shaedon Sharpe (23) and Clingan (22) and Deni Avdija (25).

Then there are players firmly in-between and hitting their prime years, like Williams (28).

At some point, the Blazers are going to have to pick a group to truly build around. Letting Williams walk in free agency is a good indication of which direction they are leaning.