THE Portland Path Blazers they might must accept a number of second-round picks in the event that they commerce a backup heart Robert Williams IIIin keeping with a report.
Michael Scotto, senior NBA reporter at HoopsHype.comreported that Williams and Washington heart Jonas Valanciunas “are anticipated to command a number of second-round picks on the commerce market, in keeping with numerous NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype.”
Second-round picks are good, however they don’t seem to be what the Blazers had been hoping to get from Williams after they acquired him from Boston in a sequence of 2023 trades that despatched Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sadly, Williams’ worth is affected by his damage historical past. He missed 47 video games with the Celtics through the 2022-23 season, 76 with the Blazers final season and has solely appeared in 12 of 39 video games this season.
Williams is a top quality defensive heart with a excessive basketball IQ. He would definitely profit a contender in search of assistance on the defensive finish.
As well as, his contract is comparatively gentle. He has one 12 months left at $13.3 million.
Portland Path Blazers heart Robert Williams III (35) blocks a shot by New Orleans Pelicans guard Brandon Boston (11) within the first half of an NBA basketball recreation on the New Orleans, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (AP Photograph/Gerald Herbert)APP.A.
In response to Scotto’s report, the Golden State Warriors are in search of assistance on the courtroom and have focused Williams, Chicago heart Nikola Vucevic, Utah ahead John Collins and Washington heart Jonas Valanciunas as potential acquisitions.
The Blazers aren’t essentially in a rush to maneuver Williams earlier than the deadline. They may wait till the summer season or subsequent 12 months’s commerce deadline in hopes of doing higher than placing collectively second-round picks.
Williams is averaging 6.6 factors and 5.0 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per recreation.
He’s questionable for Thursday evening’s residence recreation towards the LA Clippers after lacking three video games resulting from sickness.
–Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Fb)
