The Portland Trail Blazers should do everything they can to maximize their chances of having a fantastic 2024-25 season. That includes trying to shed the contract of injury-prone 27-year-old backup center Robert Williams III, who seems like a prime candidate for a trade in a crowded center rotation.

Since being traded by the Boston Celtics last summer, Williams has played just six games with Portland so far. On Nov. 5, a dislocated patella in his right knee following a collision with then-defending Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. ended his season almost before it began.

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report believes there could be mutual interest between the Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies in a deal for Williams, proposing that Portland trade its 6-foot-9 backup center for power forward Brandon Clarke and a pair of future second-round picks.

“But the Grizzlies are giving up their own damaged goods in Clarke, a small-framed big who made do with elite athleticism before tearing his Achilles late in the 2022-23 campaign,” Hughes wrote. “His contract is one season longer than Williams’, but it’s nearly identical based on annual salary. The Grizzlies are sending a couple of linebackers to make up the difference, with the Blazers happy to recoup any injury risk and perhaps open up more playing time for rookie center Donovan Clingan.”

Clingan, the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NBA draft after two championship seasons with the University of Connecticut Huskies, deserves a significant run behind expected starting five Deandre Ayton. Ayton, too, should be seriously considered as a potential trade asset. The 6-foot-1 former No. 1 pick, a below-average starting center, is the team’s highest-paid player, set to make $34 million in 2024-25. Clingan, 20, has the advent of his massive defensive upside working in his favor. It might also make sense for Portland to free up more run for fellow backup Duop Reath, who had a surprisingly impressive rookie season last year.

In 68 games (20 starts), the 6-foot-10 LSU product averaged 9.1 points on a .461/.359/.742 shooting average, along with 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.6 blocks and 0.5 steals per night.

Clingan has already proven himself in Summer League, at least when it comes to the rack. In four games in Las Vegas, Clingan averaged 9.0 points on 35.7 percent shooting and 50 percent free throw shooting, but more intriguingly, he also recorded 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game.

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