Portland Trail Blazers trade deadline addition Vit Krejci has been fine but not his usual self since arriving in Oregon. The 25-year-old Czech wing was brought to Portland from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the injured Duop Reath and two future second round picks in the days before the February 5 deadline.
The trade seemed to be a win for both clubs with a slight edge to the Blazers. The Hawks brought in Corey Kispert and Buddy Hield in separate trades at the deadline, two guys with similar games
to Krejci, a former 37th pick. Fortunately, for the Blazers, the Georgia franchise was willing to part with the cheapest of three with the Czech wing earning $5 million over the next 18 months.
Reath had served the Blazers well since arriving in the summer of 2023 but with his his season-ending foot injury and pending free agency, it made sense to part with him.
Though not a massive move for the General Manager Joe Cronin and his front office, bringing in Krejci was another step in the right direction, adding desperately-needed shooting on the friendliest of team deals.
But where has the shooting been?
Krejci’s Game
Krejci made his way in the NBA as a three-point shooter, someone who could hit open shots and move without the ball. His shot mechanics are smooth, quick with a high release point. There’s no surprise he’s hit 283 threes through his career.
But Krejci is no one-trick pony. He’s able to contribute in a variety of ways, regardless of whether his shot is falling. He actually entered the league labelled as a point guard thanks to his ability to dribble, pass, and play make. But five years in, we can safely say he’s not a point guard. His best use is on the wing, hitting shots and stretching the floor. It just helps that he’s no slouch with the ball is in his hands.
Krejci’s defense is fine, if only for the fact that he’s 6’8 with an identical wingspan and is relatively fleet of foot both in straight lines and laterally. He’ll never be a lock-down defender like Toumani Camara or Matisse Thybulle but if he’s contributing on the scoreboard, he only needs to be average.
Krejci’s Season
Unfortunately, the fifth-year pro is barely shooting above 30 percent from beyond the arc as a Blazer, far from the deadeye shooter he was billed as. It’s actually more than 10 percent lower than the rate he registered in his three years with the Atlanta Hawks where he never fell below the 92nd percentile in long range shots.
In 46 games with the Hawks before the trade, Krejci averaged 9.0 points on 42.3 percent from three, 46.4 percent from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 62.8 percent effective field goal percentage.
In his 18 games as a Blazer, he has put up 7.4 points on 30.7 percent from three, 40.7 percent from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.1 percent.
That’s not the whole story though. Through those 18 games, among wings, Krejci ranks fifth in two-point percentage at 67.9 percent, fourth at the rim at 87.5 percent and 10th in the midrange at 60.0 percent.
Krejci’s success closer to the rim is no doubt in debt to his reputation as a three-point shooter. Defenders close out quickly, allowing him to pump fake or sidestep, enabling him to get to the rim or thereabouts.
Why I’m Not Worried
As mentioned, Krejci has only played 18 games in Blazers colors. He’s shown through three-and-a-half years with the Hawks that he can regularly hit the three ball at an elite level, never dipping below 40 percent. He might end up falling below it this season (39.1 percent so far overall) but I’m not doubting him being able to return to that level next year.
Crucially, Krejci is still able to contribute on the scoreboard if the long ball isn’t falling, hitting two-point shots and finishing around the rim with incredible efficiency.
The Blazers now get 11 games and another full season to look at him, plenty of time to decide whether to extend, re-sign, trade or let him walk before the 2027 offseason.
Conclusion
Vit Krejci has managed to stay in the league cultivating his long-range shot as his primary asset while still being able to execute within the arc and at the rim, thanks to those point guard skills he owns.
Despite modest early returns, the Krejci trade was a shrewd under-the-radar move that should end up benefitting the Blazers in the long run, not just because of his modest payday but his multidimensional skillset on the offensive side of the ball.
