The idea of the Portland Trail Blazers moving Robert Williams III is the kind of scenario that makes sense only if the season starts to tilt in the wrong direction. Right now, Portland has bigger decisions ahead, and what happens over the next few months will shape where the franchise goes next.
The Ringer’s Michael Pina floated a deal that would send Williams to Utah and bring Jusuf Nurkic back to Portland. He wrote: "In light of Jusuf Nurkic’s injury, I would like to see Robert Williams III in Utah," Pina wrote.
"Reunite Timelord with the Ainge family and give the Jazz a defensive inside presence whose passing ability tracks nicely with how Will Hardy-who was an assistant coach in Boston when Rob was its starting center-likes to invert the floor. Everybody wins!
"Williams can’t technically be traded until December, but if the Trail Blazers’ season goes sideways and they decide to shed a little long-term money, would they take back Nurkic’s expiring contract and a couple second-round picks? Let the Bosnian Beast cook beside Damian Lillard once again, for old times’ sake? Right now, the Blazers have five centers on their roster, feel a smidge directionless, and should be down to pick up whatever draft capital they can."
There’s another layer to the conversation, too. If Portland shifts its thinking about Yang Hanson, the first-round pick from the 2025 NBA draft, a Williams deal could create room for the rookie to climb into the rotation sooner. Hanson is still a developmental piece, but the fact that the Blazers are committed to Williams for the next three years points to some doubt about whether Hanson will be ready for a regular role anytime soon.
Even if Portland brought Nurkic back, he could still sit ahead of Hanson on the depth chart. And because Nurkic is on an expiring contract, the Blazers could decide to keep Hanson in that backup spot for the 2027-28 season.
Still, a Williams trade does not look imminent. His new contract runs for $44 million over the next three seasons, and the structure is favorable for Portland. Only $5 million is guaranteed next season, and his 2028-29 salary is entirely non-guaranteed.
There’s also the timing problem. The Blazers cannot make a move like this until the end of December or early January, which makes a deal feel far off for now. And inside the organization, Williams remains valued as one of the veterans in the locker room and one of the main pieces if Portland is going to make a jump this season.
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