Yesterday we fielded a Blazer’s Edge Mailbag question regarding the Portland Trail Blazers’ next move after a summer of retooling with Jrue Holiday, Yang Hansen, and Damian Lillard. We surmised that Portland’s needs would be determined as much by the development of players on the roster now–almost all of whom carry significant variables–as the attractiveness of talent in other uniforms.
Today we’re going to run Part 2 of the question, looking at players (or at least player archetypes) who would be
good for the Blazers in almost any situation.
For those who missed it, here was the prompt:
Hey Dave!
By Blazers standards, this was a fairly active transaction window. We acquired Jrue via trade, drafted Yang (after a trade), signed Dame, and then finished things off by signing Blake Wesley… FOUR new players! Ok maybe that’s not as active as I thought but at least it FEELS that way. Assuming Joe is done making moves this summer, what do you think will be the next one? When do you think it’ll be?
I suppose new ownership could change the way the team has been managed but it’s tough to draw many conclusions until we see Dundon in action. Sounds like winning is the new objective according (in different ways) to Tom, Joe, and Chauncey so it doesn’t feel like salary cap saving moves are in our future.
Do you have a shortlist of guys you like that the Blazers could realistically acquire? Is there one dream trade scenario that would send you over the moon?
Let’s rule out any scenario where the Blazers fall flat on their face. That’d be no fun. Let’s assume that the team reasonably improves from last year.
Thanks!
Another Armchair GM
Ok, AAG, let’s start out with a couple models for consideration. These aren’t players the Blazers could actually get, but examples of who would help.
The Star
I’m not saying he’s the ultimate NBA player, but Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is a prime example of a star the Blazers could benefit from. He scored 28 points per game last season shooting 45% from the floor and just shy of 40% from the three-point arc. Plus he’s competent on defense. At 24 years old, he ticks every box the Blazers could hope for.
Edwards would anchor the offense immediately. He’d distract defenses enough to open the floor for teammates. And imagine Yang Hansen up high or Deni Avdija down the lane choosing between Edwards on the wing or Toumani Camara in the corner as a passing target.
Obviously the Blazers have no means to trade for Edwards. The big question is, who’s the next Ant-Man coming down the pike? Portland fans hope it’s Shaedon Sharpe. If that ever happened, you can get a glimpse of how good this team could be. If not, drafting or trading for THAT guy would be like a dream come true.
The Super Sub
Portland filled up their backcourt with Holiday and Lillard this summer, but with all due respect, both are in their 30’s and Lillard is rehabbing a career-changing injury. The Blazers could use a little long-term vision in the bench rotation.
The archetype here is Malik Beasley, just cleared from a federal gambling investigation. He’s a seasoned veteran but still only 28 (almost 29) years old. He shoots over 41% from the three-point arc and scored 16 points in 28 minutes per game for the Detroit Pistons last year. The vision here is Beasley and a rejuvenated Jerami Grant (himself a 40% three-point shooter until last season) manning either wing with offensive versatility to burn.
Personally, I still would not take Beasley himself. He’s played for four teams in the last four seasons. Something about that makes me itch. I’m not sure a young team needs to add that kind of variable to the mix. It’s a moot point anyway, since Beasley is an unrestricted free agent and Portland spent their full Mid-Level Exception on Lillard. But “veteran, versatile, great shooter” is a short checklist for helping the Blazers reserve corps. Maybe a year or two down the road if Beasley remains steady somewhere?
Semi-Realistic Gets
Now that we’ve established the ideals, let’s look at players who could come available in trade over the next couple of seasons who might bolster Portland’s chances as they grow.
Taurean Prince is a low-cost, good-shooting veteran who can defend on the perimeter. He’s only making $3.5 million a year and the Milwaukee Bucks may eventually outgrow their need for him. I could see Prince playing behind Camara and Avdija or as a cheap Jerami Grant substitute.
Honestly, I still like new Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome. He’s not coming to the market soon unless the Grizzlies bomb their season, as he just signed with them. But I love his energy as a bench player and he shoots 44% from the arc.
If you want another mostly-dream target, what about Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith? We saw what he could do in the playoffs defensively. I imagine a trio of Camara, Avdija, and Nesmith playing together and drool. There’s no way the Blazers could touch him now, but his contract is up in two years and I think there’s a non-zero chance that Indiana drops like a rock and has trouble recovering. Nesmith can’t carry a team. Draft assets might be enough to pull him in a hypothetical future where the Pacers struggle as he enters the last year of his contract.
To make up for dropping that name, let’s look at Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen. He scores well on a per-possession level and shoots the lights out, plus he plays hard and knows his role. He’s also on a somewhat-too-expensive contract on a financially-swamped team that’s projected to plummet this season. Allen could be ripe for the picking. He’d make either Holiday or Lillard somewhat more expendable.
If Grant leaves or can’t perform up to standards, I don’t hate Lakers forward Rui Hachimura as a utility substitute. He’s an innings eater, the kind of guy a coach can put in and not blink twice. He’s not going to be the answer at power forward but his efficient scoring could sure help the offense.
If the Oklahoma City Thunder have to divest, two names come to the fore. The first is guard Isaiah Joe. He’s 25 years old, underutilized, and has offense to burn. He’s on a friendly contract with a team option through 2028. That’s going to allow the Thunder to keep him comfortably. But honestly if the ceiling over him doesn’t break and if they’re staring down a new deal as he gets to his expiring year, he might be available for savings and draft picks because of OKC’s cap situation.
If you want to aim higher on the same principle, look to Luguentz Dort. He needs no introduction. His contract is coming up a year earlier than Joe and he’s more expensive. It’d take actual talent going back to Oklahoma City in order to get him, even if they didn’t anticipate re-signing him. But Portland might have a player or two to burn plus a pick. That, and the ability to pay Dort handsomely, makes this move not necessarily out of the realm of possibility in a year.
Here’s a last, minor blip on the radar to calm down by. Memphis guard Scottie Pippen Jr. might be worth a flyer, especially if Scoot Henderson isn’t developing. He’s young, springy, and can shoot. His smaller size is offset by his athletic ability. I wouldn’t hate the pick-up.
I’m sure readers have their own suggestions! Feel free to share them in the comments!
And thanks for the question! You can always send yours to blazersub@gmail.com and we’ll answer as many as we can!
