The Boston Celtics haven’t wasted time shaking up their roster this offseason. Between trades, injuries, and exits, their championship core is getting a full remodel. But as the dust settles, one name could be making a surprise return to TD Garden—Robert Williams III.
Robert Williams Could Be Available After Blazers’ Draft Decisions
The Portland Trail Blazers frontcourt is overflowing. After drafting Donovan Clingan last year and now selecting Yang Hansen with the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Portland seems to be leaning fully into youth. Even with Deandre Ayton out of the picture, it’s clear that Williams is no longer a priority.
Meanwhile, Boston suddenly has a massive hole at center. Kristaps Porzingis is gone. Luke Kornet signed elsewhere. Al Horford? Likely following soon. That leaves a thin frontcourt rotation with more questions than answers.
According to Daniel Donabedian of ClutchPoints, the Celtics are keeping tabs on their former defensive anchor. A potential trade package could include Sam Hauser, Xavier Tillman, JD Davison, and a second-round pick.
Celtics Could Roll the Dice on Familiar Ceiling
Boston has never quite replaced what Williams gave them defensively. Xavier Tillman struggled to keep pace during the postseason. Neemias Queta and Amari Williams? Intriguing, but far from playoff-ready.
If Boston wants to maintain their identity on that end of the floor—especially with Jayson Tatum recovering from a torn Achilles and Jaylen Brown managing lingering knee issues—it has to start at the rim.
No one’s asking Williams to play 30+ minutes a night. He just needs to be the chaos agent he’s always been: contest everything, catch lobs, and erase mistakes. If healthy, he instantly raises the team’s defensive ceiling—and gives a battered roster a much-needed jolt.
The Fit With Brown, White & Tatum
There’s familiarity here. Williams has already built rapport with Brown, Tatum, and Derrick White. His screen setting, weakside help, and elite timing always seemed to make the Celtics click on both ends.
This wouldn’t be a headline-grabbing free-agent move. It’d be a return to something that worked. The kind of low-risk, high-reward swing Boston can afford while its stars heal and the front office eyes another deep run.
Bottom line: it might not just be about nostalgia. Bringing back the Time Lord could be the smartest move they make all summer.
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