Trail Blazers Training Camp, Day 2: Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon Join the Proceedings

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — From the minute the Jrue Holiday trade with the Celtics was finalized over the weekend, speculation was rampant around the league that the Trail Blazers would look to trade veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon to a contender for more draft picks.

As of now, that does not appear to be the plan. Both general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups want to keep Brogdon around to be a veteran presence on what will be one of the youngest teams in the league. And, at least for now, Brogdon is on board with it.

"I've had conversations with the front office and with Chauncey," Brogdon said after his first practice with the team on Wednesday. "They want me here and I want to be here. There's a lot of misleading information about, 'They need to trade me' or 'I want to go.' Right now, I'm trying to make the most of my opportunity and embracing a leadership role on this young team."

Both Brogdon and center Robert Williams III joined the Blazers in training camp on Wednesday after meeting the team in Santa Barbara and taking their physicals last night, and both spoke with reporters after practice.

Brogdon is the only over-30 player on the team but Williams, at 25, is still one of the elder statesmen.

"That's still surreal," Williams said. "I'm embracing that leadership role."

Going from a contending team in Boston to a rebuilding team in Portland is going to be an adjustment for both of them. But Williams joins a frontcourt rotation with Deandre Ayton that could be one of the most dynamic in the NBA.

"I think it's crazy, when you talk about the athleticism of our [centers], these guys are 25 years old and both of them have played in the NBA Finals," Billups said. "The experience they have and can bring to our team is going to mean a ton."

Billups and Brogdon go way back. When Brogdon was drafted by the Bucks in 2016, a member of their front office who was a friend of Billups connected them so he could mentor him. They reconnected last summer when they both participated in a Basketball Without Borders camp in Egypt.

"He brings so much stability and poise," Billups said of the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. "He's just a grown-up. He's played a long time and played some important basketball."

During last season, Billups complained often about the lack of veterans to cover for the inexperience of such a young roster. They're hoping Brogdon can help to correct that with an even younger roster this year.

"All the experience I gained in my seven years, and then playing for championship-caliber teams, coming to a team with multiple young stars and playing for a coach that I think is really doing things the right way," Brogdon said. "Guys really admire and respect him. So I think it's a great situation for me."

Both are excited about what they saw from Scoot Henderson in their first practice together.

"That motherfucker's fast," Williams said. "He's fast as hell. Watching him on defense, his intensity. Even looking at drives, the look in his eyes, the focus is crazy."

(Side note: when I tweeted that quote out earlier today, I got texts from several Celtics beat writers telling me how much they miss Williams and how much I'll love covering him.)

"I think he's special," Brogdon added. "I think he's going to have a special first year and I think he's going to be a special player in this NBA. The biggest thing I've observed from him is not really his talent. I think he's an incredible talent. But he's also extremely coachable and humble. That goes a lot further than your talent in this league."

If Brogdon does indeed stick around, it will be interesting to see what his minutes look like with Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe making up the backcourt. Coming off a terrific season in Boston, Brogdon is too good to be glued to the bench, but he plays the same position as three of the most important players in this rebuild, who all need to play.

Brogdon seems to be up for whatever, though.

"With these young guys, a lot of players in the NBA really see through BS," Brogdon said. "Not being authentic and not being yourself. I'm a leader at heart. I learned from Indiana being with a lot of young guys when I was younger. Now I'm three or four years past those days, but I can still play. I can still go. I look forward to doing this with these guys."