JUST IN: ESPN reports this afternoon that the Oklahoma City Thunder have formally announced the signing of Portland Trail Blazers top veteran ace on a four-year, $124 million contract.

The Portland Trail Blazers could trade one of their players to a division rival.

Robert Williams III only played in six games for the Portland Trail Blazers this season before dislocating his patellar tendon, which cost him the rest of the year.

However, despite his inactivity, Williams could be on the move again in another trade, much like he was back in October when he came over to the Blazers in the Jrue Holiday deal.

Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale suggests a trade that sends Williams and the No. 40 overall pick in next week’s draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2025 first-round pick (second most favorable from the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder or Philadelphia 76ers).

Portland, for its part, might want more. Shocker. Oklahoma City can sweeten the pot without losing sleep. But the combination of RW3’s health bill, the degree to which the Blazers seem invested in Deandre Ayton and the team’s early-stage rebuild should render this, if nothing else, a conversation-starter.

This trade, or something similar, could be exactly what the Blazers need. They get off of Williams’ contract and defer one of their four draft picks to next year, giving them some financial flexibility for the upcoming season.

On top of that, the Blazers turn a second-round pick into a first in a much deeper draft for next year.

The Thunder are eager for upgrades after trading for Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls, and this deal would do that for them.

This is a win-win deal that makes sense for both sides.