Rumors

Jake Fischer: Dean Wade's deal with the Sixers has a partial guarantee in Year 4, per source. In Portland, I'm told Robert Williams' extension is fully guaranteed at $14 million for this season, but just $5 million guaranteed in Year 2, which becomes fully guaranteed if he plays 50 games this 2026-27 campaign. Then, Year 3 is entirely non-guaranteed, but becomes fully guaranteed if Williams plays 50 games in 27-28. Wonky...

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Michael Scotto: Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers signed Robert Williams to a 3-year, $44 million deal, which includes $5 million partially guaranteed Year 2, and is fully non-guaranteed Year 3. Years 2 and 3 become fully guaranteed if he plays 50+ regular-season games in the prior season.

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Toumani Buckets: I LOVE ROBERT WILLIAMS

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Shams Charania: Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III has agreed to sign a three-year, $44 million contract extension to return to the Portland Trail Blazers through 2028-29, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN.

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The Blazers’ 15-man regular season roster features 10 players under guaranteed contract and two more — Vit Krejčí and Sidy Cissoko — with team options. The Blazers are expected to exercise both team options, giving them 12 players under contract. This leaves them with three unrestricted free agents: Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley. A team source told The Oregonian/OregonLive earlier this month the Blazers have interest in retaining all three players “if the deal makes sense.” And Williams, in particular, should be a priority.

Oregonian

The Blazers have immediate needs at center and power forward. They are not expected to retain free agent center Robert Williams III, who is hoping to land a contract in the $15 million a year range, leaving only second-year center Yang Hansen as a backup to Donovan Clingan. The Blazers are also thin at power forward, with Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara their only options.

New York Times

The Blazers have immediate needs at center and power forward. They are not expected to retain free agent center Robert Williams III, who is hoping to land a contract in the $15 million a year range, leaving only second-year center Yang Hansen as a backup to Donovan Clingan.

New York Times

Robert Williams III is an option, though Portland, according to league sources, is expected to show interest in re-signing him after he played 59 games last season — second-most in his injury-hampered career. It’s a bit of bad luck for the Lakers to be looking for a rim-running, rim-protecting center at a time when there aren’t many of them in the league — not to mention ones that are available.

New York Times

The Lakers have been linked to all sorts of veteran big men in the forthcoming free agent market as well. They could emerge as a suitor for the Knicks' Mitchell Robinson and the Trail Blazers' Robert Williams III, although sources say both players are very open to remaining in their incumbent roles with the Knicks and Blazers. I'm also told that the Lakers have called the Thunder about swingman Lu Dort's availability.

marcstein.substack.com

Now, Wemby's a freak, I get it. He's a once-in-a-lifetime sort of talent. But, is there anybody out there that the Lakers could sign and go, "At least now you've got a competitive big man out there." Bobby Marks: "The one name that picked up the most buzz, a lot of teams in Chicago last week, was Robert Williams. That's the name. You have to be cautious with that because of his games availability, the minutes. That's the one guy, I don't want to say neutralized Victor Wembanyama, but I think guarded him probably one of the best certainly in the playoffs in the first round. That would be the guy. He's probably one of the top unrestricted free agent centers out there. I think he gives you that shot blocker, that rim protector, that guy that can lob threat for Luka Doncic. Now the question is, the cost? What's the cost? Is it $12, $13 million? I think that's kind of where his range is, but there'll be other teams that also see that. There are teams out there, certainly Atlanta, Boston, and the Clippers are teams that have money to spend. But that would be the one guy if I could circle in free agency on your wish list, that would be the guy."

YouTube

Sean Highkin: Robert Williams III on free agency and if he wants to be back: "Yeah, for sure. I love Portland. But everything is a negotiation."

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Sean Highkin: Robert Williams III: "Thankful I could stay healthy for the whole year, that's the biggest thing. I put a lot of work in this summer."

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Sean Highkin: Robert Williams III on Tiago Splitter: "He came in aggressively and we needed that. He let us know nobody is gonna feel sorry for us. I think he did such a great job coaching us and motivating us and letting us know he was in it with us. We were ready to go to war with him."

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Sean Highkin: Robert Williams III says now that he's gotten through a full season healthy, his next goal is getting off the minutes restriction and not being able to play back-to-backs.

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