Notes, Thoughts and Takeaways From Trail Blazers Media Day

Decoding Monday's interview sessions with Joe Cronin, Chauncey Billups and key Blazers players.

📍 PORTLAND, Ore. — I’ve covered enough NBA media days and training camps to be able to decode these press conferences. This will be No. 11—five in Chicago and six in Portland, not counting virtual stuff in 2020 due to COVID. You have to take most things that are said by coaches, players and decision-makers with a big grain of salt this time of year.

Every coach wants to play faster. Every player worked on their game all summer. You know the drill.

The last few Trail Blazers media days have had a theme. Two years ago, it was returning to playoff status with Damian Lillard newly healthy and the addition of Jerami Grant. Last year, it was the first time general manager Joe Cronin spoke to reporters since the Lillard trade, which happened less than a week beforehand, so that dominated the conversation.

This year? It’s tough to say what the theme was, but some important questions were addressed. The team is largely the same as it was last year, with the exception of one lottery pick (Donovan Clingan) and a trade addition (Deni Avdija). Everyone knows this isn’t a playoff team. Chauncey Billups is going into the final year of his contract as head coach.

Here’s what I found notable as Cronin, Billups and 10 players spoke on Monday morning:

Cronin on continuity and his approach to trades this summer

Outside of drafting Clingan No. 7 overall, the Blazers only made one significant roster move this summer, trading Malcolm Brogdon for Avdija.

Jerami Grant was not traded. Neither were Anfernee Simons or Robert Williams III. Cronin was asked about this, as well as the likelihood of any major moves being made during the season, ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.