July 29th news: With the continued offseason trades and signings, many teams in the league are making frequent moves to strengthen their roster. Robert Williams III, a former Celtics center who currently plays for the Trail Blazers, has become one of the potential targets.

The Lakers have already strengthened their starting center position with the acquisition of Deandre Ayton through a trade. The Los Angeles Clippers have also added depth to their interior by signing the experienced Brook Lopez as a backup. However, the Golden State Warriors have yet to make a move at center. Despite numerous speculation that they would trade for Celtics veteran Al Horford, the deal has yet to materialize.

In a market lacking quality big men, Robert Williams has become a name worth watching. The 26-year-old enjoyed a career highlight in the 2021-22 season, earning him a seventh-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting thanks to his rim protection and defensive efficiency. However, since then, frequent injuries have severely impacted his playing time and form.

Despite this, Williams still put up impressive numbers for the Trail Blazers in the 2024-25 season, averaging 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks , and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 64.1% . While his numbers weren't as impressive as his peak, he still demonstrated a highly effective rim protector.

Currently, Williams' contract is worth $13.2 million per year and he will become a full free agent in the summer of 2025. This contract structure gives interested teams greater flexibility, and he has certain tactical value whether as a rotation reinforcement or a defensive core reserve.

In the coming weeks, Robert Williams' whereabouts will become one of the focuses. Whether the Lakers and Warriors are willing to bet on this defensive expert with still potential will also affect the depth and stability of their interior rotations in the new season.