Good news for Yang Hansen! Robert Williams shows his true trade value; Lakers, Mavericks, and Hawks emerge as potential destinations

On January 13th Beijing time, US media Heavy wrote that Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams has showcased his real trade worth through his latest displays, making the Lakers, Mavericks, and Hawks likely candidates as his next teams. Should the team feel that Hansen needs increased minutes, trading Williams is likely to be on the table. The details are as follows—

In the game against the Knicks, Williams played 16 minutes, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 to score 12 points, along with grabbing 4 rebounds, recording 1 steal, and 2 blocks. He was versatile on the court, protecting the rim with his height and wingspan while finishing effectively near the basket. This interior player also showed some outside shooting range by hitting the third three-pointer of his career. Although his primary role is rim protection, this confident shot marked another advancement in his skill set.

Returning from injury, Williams once again proved his value. It remains uncertain whether he will stay long-term in Portland, but such standout performances will undoubtedly prompt multiple teams to contact the Trail Blazers about a trade.

Williams’ career has consistently been plagued by injuries, which is his biggest challenge. Traded to Portland before the 2023-24 season, this is now his third season with the “Rip City” team, yet he has only appeared in 53 games: 6 in his rookie year, 20 last season, and 27 so far this season.

Over the past few years, many teams have shown interest in Williams. The Trail Blazers selected Yang Hansen in this year’s first round, likely hoping he can quickly develop into a rotational big man; meanwhile, last season the team waived Ayton to open up a starting spot for Donovan Klingenberg.

If head coach Chauncey Billups deems it necessary to give Hansen more playing time, trading Williams could become the team’s preferred option.

How the Trail Blazers will adjust their frontcourt rotation after the trade deadline is still unclear. To meet their goals, the team will almost certainly need to make some roster changes.

Williams brings tremendous energy to the team’s second unit. Despite limited minutes, he always manages to impact the game’s momentum. As a rim protector and cutter, his presence significantly boosts the team’s offensive and defensive intensity.

Injuries have always been a major hurdle in his career. Over eight seasons, he has played just 262 games, but when healthy, he ranks among the league’s elite interior defenders — averaging more than one block per game every season of his career.

During the 2022 playoffs with the Boston Celtics, when they reached the Finals, he averaged 2.2 blocks per game, making the Miami Heat wary of his defensive presence.

The Trail Blazers might want to seize the moment and trade Williams while he is healthy and playing well to maximize his value. Teams like the Lakers, Mavericks, and Hawks urgently need to strengthen their frontcourt depth for various reasons.

Williams will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, making the latter half of the season a kind of “job tryout” for him.

Seeing him stay healthy this season opens up the possibility for trade discussions, which is truly positive. His frequent absences in previous seasons were truly regrettable.