Trail Blazers Send Robert Williams to G League for Conditioning; Splitter Begins Tenure 2-1
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The Portland Trail Blazers assigned center Robert Williams to the Rip City Remix on Tuesday as the veteran continues his return from left-knee surgery. The move is strictly for conditioning, the team announced.
Williams, 28, underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in March and has appeared in only 26 games since arriving in Portland two seasons ago. The former first-round pick is scheduled to enter unrestricted free agency next summer, making him a possible trade candidate ahead of this season’s deadline.
Tiago Splitter, elevated to interim head coach after Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave following an FBI arrest after the season opener, became the first Brazilian-born head coach in NBA history. “It’s an honor, to be honest,” Splitter said. “A lot of people follow me in Brazil and are proud of this accomplishment.”
Portland is 2-1 under Splitter, capped by Monday’s 14-point victory over the Lakers. Forward Deni Avdija has paced the club in scoring in each of those three games. “He knows how to talk to us. He knows how to prepare us,” Avdija said, declining to discuss the coaching change further.
The Blazers’ offense remains a concern. The team shot just 37 percent in a loss to the Clippers before bouncing back to hit 45.6 percent against Los Angeles. Portland is converting 33.8 percent of its three-point attempts through four games. “I think our offense will definitely catch up to our defense,” guard Jrue Holiday said. “Everybody gets involved. That’s how I like my basketball.”
Separately, analyst Yossi Gozlan of ThirdApron.com broke down the recent four-year extensions for Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara and what those deals could signal for the front office’s next moves.
Source: Hoops Rumors
