Robert Williams III spent the better part of three seasons reminding the NBA that his body might never cooperate with his talent. Then the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs happened, and everything changed. Williams was a force — a physical, communicative rim protector who showed that his defensive instincts remain as sharp as ever when he is healthy and motivated. His placement among the top 35 free agents this summer reflects the renewed interest from around the league.

Williams, 28, is on a $13.3 million salary and is an unrestricted free agent. His market is difficult to predict precisely because durability concerns have followed him from Boston — where he won a title in 2022 — through his time in Portland. A healthy Williams is a top-10 defensive center in the NBA. An injured Williams is an expensive roster spot that cannot be filled. Every team that bids on him this summer is essentially betting on which version they get.

The Trail Blazers should bring him back. Portland is not a contender yet — the team is building around a young core — but Williams provides the kind of veteran defensive anchor that young rosters need to develop proper habits. His communication, shot-blocking, and screen navigation are skills that rub off on teammates. Matisse Thybulle, also a free agent, is a complementary defensive piece who played 30 games this season and shot 39.8 percent from three. The Blazers would benefit from retaining both on reasonable deals.

The challenge is the contract structure. Williams’ injury history makes guaranteeing three or four years at $15–18 million annually a genuine risk. A two-year deal with a third-year team option — giving Portland the flexibility to exit if his health deteriorates — is the structure both sides should target. That framing gives Williams financial security while protecting the franchise from a long-term commitment it cannot absorb in a rebuilding context.

Contending teams will absolutely make calls. A franchise with championship aspirations — needing rim protection for a playoff run — could offer Williams two years and $30 million, gambling on the healthy version. Portland would have to decide whether matching that offer makes sense for a team that is not yet ready to contend, or whether the right move is to wish Williams well and redirect those dollars toward younger depth.

Player	2025-26 Salary	Rights	Projected Market
Robert Williams III	$13.3M	Full	2 yrs, $28–32M
Matisse Thybulle	$11.2M	Full	1–2 yrs, minimum adjacent

Portland should re-sign Williams on a two-year deal with a team option at approximately $14–15 million annually. He is one of the best defensive centers alive when healthy, and his playoff performance proved the engine still runs. Structure the contract to protect against injury risk, keep Thybulle as cheap depth, and let Williams anchor the defense while the offensive talent around him matures.