Robert Williams III remains a tantalizing defensive force for Portland, but a pair of injury-riddled seasons has Blazers fans weighing the risk of keeping him on the books as he nears free agency. With Deandre Ayton out of the picture and a crowded center rotation featuring Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen, Duop Reath, Toumani Camara, and Deni Avdija, Williams’ floor time is far from guaranteed. A healthy Williams could still be a cornerstone, but 40 games would be a meaningful baseline to unlock trade value or an extension in a tight, youth-heavy lineup.

In Portland’s world, Williams’ rim protection, reach and feel for help defense matter most when he’s on the floor. Offensively, he finishes efficiently at the rim and can pass out of traffic, but durability is the dividing line between a high-impact role and a luxury add. The Blazers face a fork in the road at the February deadline: maximize Williams as a trade chip if he stays healthy, or recalibrate the frontcourt around their budding bigs if health falters.