The Trail Blazers will fully guarantee Duop Reath‘s contract for the 2025/26 season, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).
Reath’s deal will pay him $2.22MM. Portland would have had to waive him on or before Friday in order to avoid guaranteeing that full amount, as our early salary guarantee tracker shows.
Reath has spent the last two seasons with the Blazers. He averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 35.9% from three as a rookie, but saw his playing time diminish from 17.9 minutes per night over 68 games to 10.2 minutes per night over 46 games last season following the addition of rookie center Donovan Clingan.
While previous starting center Deandre Ayton is now with the Lakers, the Blazers once again took a big man in the first round in Yang Hansen. If Hansen is able to earn minutes as a rookie, Reath’s pathway to minutes will remain somewhat blocked, especially if Robert Williams is healthy.
Reath should play ahead of Williams, dude is clearly much better, more potential and healthier.
While Williams is far, far more talented, younger and more impactful as a team leader, he struggles staying healthy. Williams is an exceptionally talented defender and a far better rim protector than Reath whose positioning in the low key needs work. Per minute played Williams is a far superior rebounder. If Williams is healthy his upside is significantly higher.
@meadowlark, all true, Williams is very talented… but you understate Williams’ availability problem. Williams is, literally, the least available player in the league. He’s played 35, 6, and 20 games in the last 3 seasons. The only reason he’s on an NBA roster is that he’s got an untradable $13M/yr contract.
I disagree with the author of this article on Reath being behind Williams in Portland’s rotation. The fact that Reath has been extended signals that he is ahead, not behind, Robert Williams. Reath is now Portland’s 3rd string C. Williams will be bought out or traded in by February.