One day after Portland finalized a blockbuster trade that added star power to its backcourt, the Trail Blazers turned right around and locked up the middle of the floor. Robert Williams III is staying in Portland on a three-year, $44 million deal, according to Shams Charania.
That move fits the direction the Blazers had been signaling for weeks. Williams drew interest from teams out West and from his former club, the Boston Celtics, but Portland held on and will keep him through at least 2028-29.
Williams quickly became a favorite in Rose City, and it wasn’t hard to see why. He brought the rim protection that has long defined his game, while also showing more willingness to stretch the floor in recent seasons. The bigger win for Portland was that he paired that impact with a healthier stretch than usual.
His 59-game season in 2025-26 was the second-highest total of his career, and his postseason run mattered too. Williams gave the Blazers useful production and experience in their five-game series against the San Antonio Spurs.
The timing of this deal also makes sense with Ja Morant now in the picture. If opponents are going to come after the offensively focused Morant-Lillard duo, Portland needs reliable rim protectors behind them, and Williams is one of the league’s better answers for that job.
The numbers back that up. Williams has averaged at least one block per game in every season of his career. That puts him among just nine players in the NBA to do it every year from 2018-19 onward, alongside Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Al Horford, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brook Lopez, Mitchell Robinson, and Myles Turner.
He gave Portland more than shot blocking, too. In 2025-26, Williams posted 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and shot 70.6% from the field.
The fit has been strong as well. Williams’ chemistry in Portland and his team-best on-off number of +3.9 make the deal look smart on paper. The obvious catch is durability, and that remains the part that can swing the evaluation if it goes sideways.
The exact contract structure has not been made clear, including any incentives or team option details. Still, the Blazers have checked a major box by giving Donovan Clingan help on the frontline.
There had been some surprise around whether Williams would return, especially with reports that he wanted a deal north of $15 million annually. But his comments about loving Portland and appreciating the training staff’s plan made a reunion feel sensible from his side.
His annual average value now sits in the range of “fringe” and non-starting centers across the league, per Spotrac. If he can stay reasonably healthy again, he should matter for a Portland team that ranked as the league’s third-stingiest defense after the All-Star break.
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