6:15pm: Williams is facing potential season-ending surgery to repair bone and ligament damage in his right kneecap, Shams Charania and Jared Weiss of The Athletic report (Twitter link). Alternatively, Williams could choose a cleanup procedure with a two-to-three month recovery timetable.
5:04pm: Robert Williams continues to be plagued by knee issues during his young career.
The Trail Blazers’ big man will undergo right knee surgery, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. Medical professionals and Williams’ agent are discussing what type of procedure is necessary and the timeline for his recovery, Wojnarowski adds.
Williams was injured during Portland’s game against Memphis on Sunday. He missed the start of last season with the Celtics after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
Williams has been backing up another newcomer to the Blazers via trade, Deandre Ayton. He was part of the Celtics’ package that brought Jrue Holiday to Boston. Portland also received Malcolm Brogdon and draft assets in that blockbuster.
Williams was averaging 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his first six games with Portland.
Williams appeared in just 35 regular season contests with Boston last season, including 20 starts. He hasn’t appeared in more than 61 games since being drafted in the first round in 2018. Noted for his all-around defense, he holds career averages of 7.3 points, 6.9 points and 1.7 blocks in 20.5 minutes per game through 215 regular-season appearances.
Over the course of his career, Williams has also missed games due to hip, back, ankle, foot and toe injuries. Moses Brown and Jabari Walker are the logical candidates to absorb Williams’ minutes while he recovers.
Williams has a four-year, $48MM contract that runs through the 2025/26 season. It includes some incentives, such as making the All-Defense team and appearing in 69 or more regular season games.
Bummer
Lillard trade looking more and more horrible.
I thought they should have traded Time Lord to the Grizzlies for a 1st and Kennard or two 2nds and Kennard with Adam’s down, now it’s too late.
His knee is so bad they brought him into surgery before even deciding what kind of surgery he needs. That’s actually kinda wild.
From someone who’s had 20+ surgeries at 32 i can confirm that this is actually pretty normal as far as surgeries go. They don’t know exactly whats wrong until they open you up and look. They generally have an idea. But it’s not as uncommon as you would think.
Via the Daniel Theis article a few days ago:
“Ezpkns34 • 3 days ago
He can be the backup in Portland when Time Lord’s knees inevitably blow out”
He might have to retire and save those knees. Can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when he’s older.
Well he won’t be in the nba when he’s older…obviously
You don’t say
Timelord will use his powers to manipulate time and remain in the NBA forever.
As a Celtic fan I’m not surprised
That’s what weight does on joints. When you are a basketball player. You watching NO.
Damage goods for Blazers.
The sky is blue
This makes Brad Stevens look like a genius.
Dude got them Brandon Roy knees.
Sad the Celtics keep getting away with this nonsense. Any other team would have been penalized
How did they get away with it? Please explain. The trade wouldn’t have gone through if Portland didn’t like the medical reports from their own doctors.
Look at what happened with the Clippers and Wizards and Celtics trade for Porzingis. The clippers backed out because they didn’t have enough time for their doctors to look at Brogdon.
Celtics didn’t get away with anything. Portland didn’t do their due diligence.
Look what happened with Cleveland and Boston during the Kyrie trade. They didn’t like the medical reports of IT so Boston threw in a 1st rounder to complete the trade.
I also recall the GPII signing, last season, as the trade with GSW had some issues regarding his physical (by the way, GPII then recovered and regained a rotational role in GSW).
Duop Reath Time !
Just unfortunate for the Time Lord. He couldn’t catch a break
I would make trades if I was the Blazers. I think they should build around Henderson and Sharpe with the young youth. Find a young C,PF and SG prospect around the Same age as Henderson and Sharpe. Eventually trading Ayton, Grant, Simons, Brogdon, R Williams and Minaya. Sign veterans on the bench. Make trades and Take on expiring contracts and young talent at those positions listed above. Robert Williams should learn to play the PF spot because he is 6″8(don’t say wingspan) he gets pushed around by bigger Cs. Time to heal . Do it Portland
They have a young center. Best trade assets they have are Brogdon, Grant, Simons. All could be gone by TD. Spurs should go after Brogdon right now.
I’m talking about a younger C around Scoot and Sharpe’s age. Ayton is about to be 26. I would make a offer to Houston, Ayton, Grant, Simons, Brogdon, Minaya, Wainwright and two 1st picks and 2nds for Smith jr, Sengun, Victor O, Jeff Green, draft pick Thompson, Boban at Tate.
Spurs should go after Detroit for Wiseman and Hayes
Or Portland traded Brogdon, Simons, Ayton, Grant(third team in trade for a SG prospect) and Minaya with two 1st picks to Utah for Kessler, Hendricks, Sexton, Kelly O, Horton-Tucker and Simon F
One 1st*
Do you have any idea how trades work? In this nonsense you mention you have more than 100 million coming out of Portland against around 50 m from Utah
It says Grant and Simons will go to a third team. 53 m from Utah*
If I was Portland, I would trade for Wiseman (trade value at an all-time low), consider (as much as I like him) packaging Simons, a pick AND filler for some young prospects
I honestly think Wiseman should go there to develop with Henderson. I would want them to trade Ayton though.