The Boston Celtics' leading shotblocker is Derrick White. That's more a compliment to White, who is an incredible shotblocker at 6-foot-4, than a slight on the rest of the C's rim-protectors. Still, it never hurts to add an extra layer of interior protection; enter (again) Robert Williams III?
Timelord became a Celtics legend in his five seasons with the team and was eventually shipped out as part of the Jrue Holiday trade. It's not as though the Celtics are searching high and low for a rim-running big, and Neemias Queta's skillset isn't terribly different from Rob Will's — but having two guys who block shots isn't the worst thing in the world.
This is all speculation right now, but Williams III will be one of the hot names on the trade block in the next month. Despite Luka Garza playing pretty well of late, and Portuguese legend Neemias Queta deserving praise for the work he's done this year, if the Blazers end up desperate to deal RWIII, I think a reunion makes sense.
Injury concerns will always linger for Williams III. That's the life of an NBA center who plays above the rim so much, unfortunately. But even after years of injuries, he's looked pretty spry for the Trail Blazers this season, and the block numbers (1.4 per game in just 16 minutes) are right around where they were during his Celtics days.
Could a Robert Williams III reunion be in the cards for the Celtics?
Suddenly, the Celtics are in position to buy at the deadline. They're No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, a far cry from the tank-adjacent season so many experts anticipated. When a team is in that position, it must turn over every stone at the trade deadline.
A former Celtics fan-favorite sounds like he'll be available at the deadline, and even if he doesn't fill a position of immediate need, he would still provide the type of second-unit rim protection that becomes imperative in the postseason. Teams often think they're set at every position until April and May roll around. Why risk anything? Shore up any position possible in the next month.
He also fills the hearts of Celtics fans everywhere, and that counts for something. In 2026, we're doing things just because they bring us joy, right folks?
This is probably why I've never been given control of an NBA front office. Whatever.