Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III will need to undergo surgery on his right knee and will be lost for the season, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The team confirmed in a press release that Williams is “expected” to miss the rest of the year.
This is a big blow, obviously, as the Blazers acquired Williams from the Celtics as part of the Jrue Holiday trade — and Williams and starting center Deandre Ayton gave the Blazers one of the league’s best one-two punches in the pivot.
Williams, 26, appeared in six games this season, averaging 6.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, shooting 56 percent from the field. He spent the first five years of his career with Boston after being selected with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
He missed the start of last season with the Celtics after having surgery on his left knee for a torn meniscus. This time, he suffered the injury in a loss to the Grizzlies over the weekend.
Portland will now have to turn to the likes of Moses Brown or Jabari Walker to help relieve Ayton in the middle. There is also the possibility that the Blazers could sign someone, too.
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