The Blazers' Quietest Offseason Decision May Be Their Most Important

The Portland Trail Blazers traded for Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies, but one of their smaller moves could have a greater impact.

Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Micah Nori. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Portland Trail Blazers' offseason will be defined by their decisions to hire Micah Nori as their head coach and acquire Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies.

That isn't the only move the Blazers have made this offseason. The team also agreed to a new three-year, $43.5 million contract with backup center Robert Williams III. Williams' deal hasn't gotten as much attention as the Morant trade or the Nori hire, but it could have just as strong, if not a stronger, impact during the season.

Blazers Re-Signing Robert Williams III Adds Much-Needed Depth

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell dribbles the ball while Portland Trail Blazers center/forward Robert Williams III defends | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Williams was injured for most of his first two seasons in Portland, but he was healthy enough to play in 59 games for the Blazers during the 2025-26 campaign. He averaged 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while blocking 1.5 shots per contest. The rim protection that Williams provides is crucial to the team's success.

While Donovan Clingan holds the fort down in the starting lineup, being able to transition to Williams, who started at center in the 2022 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics, is a massive luxury.

Not many backup centers are making around $14 million per year on their contracts, but Williams is one of the few exceptions. The Blazers view Williams as someone that can get them 15-20 minutes per night when Clingan is on the sidelines without giving up too much value.

Year	Salary
2026-27	$14 million
2027-28	$14.5 million ($5 million guaranteed)
2028-29	$15 million (non-guaranteed)

Clingan still has a lot of potential and is rightfully the starter, but Williams is someone that could hypothetically start on other teams in the league.

Portland could have moved on from Williams because they selected another center in Yang Hansen with their 2025 first-round pick, but they felt Williams was too valuable to move on from.

Williams' defense will come in handy as he packs the paint, disallowing players to drive and forcing them to shoot from distance. As long as Portland can keep their opponents on the perimeter honest, the Blazers could have a viable defensive solution, with Williams as a key piece to the puzzle.

Williams' role will likely change a bit as the team transitions from Tiago Splitter to Nori as their head coach. He was around one of the league's best defensive centers, Rudy Gobert, over the last five seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nori knows how to develop a strong defensive center, and Williams should benefit greatly from that coaching.

The deal could blow up in their faces if Williams' injuries come back to bite him, but Portland is willing to take that risk by tabbing him as their sure-fire backup center for the upcoming season.