Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers
Acquired from the Boston Celtics as part of the Jrue Holiday trade, Robert Williams III’s future with the Portland Trail Blazers is unknown. He’s a good, promising young center but with Deandre Ayton on the roster, there’s little room for growth for him. That could open the door toward the Blazers at least exploring the idea of trading him. Williams has three years remaining on his contract, so there’s no urgency for the Blazers to find a resolution for him but maybe the Grizzlies could make it worth it for Portland to explore a deal.
At this point in their respective careers, Williams is considered the better defensive player than Adams. If he can continue to be that player this season, and remain healthy, there’s an argument to be made that Williams could make the Grizzlies even better.
If the Grizzlies are looking for a center that can emulate a lot of what they expected from Adams, Williams may be an ideal match. The big question would fall on what the Blazers’ asking price would be. The Grizzlies are not afraid to pull the trigger, as we saw this season. If it’s reasonable, perhaps it can work.