Both ex-Boston Celtics traded to Trail Blazers face uncertain futures
Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III had definitive roles on the Boston Celtics bench during the 2022-23 season -- the latter big man having one since he was drafted by the Cs in 2018 -- but now face uncertain futures with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Both players, who were the key pieces Boston sent to the Rose City in the Jrue Holiday trade last October, acknowledged as much during their exit interviews following the conclusion of a 21-61 season for Portland in 2023-24.
For Brogdon, whether or not he'll be suiting up for the rebuilding Blazers next season was clearly on his mind; despite his admission that he enjoyed his time in Portland even though the team finished last in the west.
"As far as my future, I don't know what's going to happen," Brogdon said (h/t All Trail Blazers). "It's completely up in the air. But I've definitely enjoyed my time here in Portland."
Williams' uncertainty surrounds his injury woes that limited him to just six appearances throughout the 2023-24 season.
"It was pretty tough,” Williams said of his recovery process (h/t All Trail Blazers). “But it was eye-opening. I got a chance to work on stuff while I was put down for a minute."
Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III referred to by LeBron James as 'bag of Lays potato chips' relating to Boston Celtics' offseason deals
Brogdon, Williams, and Marcus Smart were all thrown under the bus by LeBron James when he claimed on his Mind the Game podcast with JJ Redick that the Celtics acquired Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis for "a bag of Lays potato chips" over the offseason.
“Like I said, personnel helps," James said (h/t Sports Illustrated). "Adding [Kristaps] Porziņģis and getting Jrue [Holiday] for a bag of Lays potato chips, that helps as well."
The narrative for all three players suffered immensely in 2023-24 as they struggled on the rebuilding Trail Blazers and, in Smart's case, incidentally bottom-feeding Memphis Grizzlies.
Boston made matters much worse for them by being so historically dominant with their new core.