Mason Plumlee an excellent fit for the Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers drafted Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with the 23rd pick of the 2015 NBA Draft and, to the chagrin of many fans, immediately traded him and Steve Blake to the Brooklyn Nets for Mason Plumlee and the rights to Pat Connaughton. The trade has drawn heavy criticism from fans who were rightfully excited for Hollis-Jefferson to join the Trail Blazers, but, let me tell you, Plumlee is a phenomenal acquisition. This was a great trade for Portland.

Plumlee, 25, is a hyper athletic forward-center that had a mini-breakout in his second NBA season. Starting for the oft injured Brook Lopez, Plumlee averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds with the Nets in 45 games as a member of the starting lineup in 2014-15. For some perspective, both of those numbers are better than Trail Blazers starting center Robin Lopez put up, and in fewer minutes per game.

During this stretch, Plumlee crested 20 points on five different occasions. That is more 20-point games than Trail Blazers centers Lopez, Meyers Leonard, and Chris Kaman have had combined throughout the entirety of their time in Portland (six seasons altogether). Perhaps most impressively, Plumlee was able to be so productive while splitting minutes with Brook, who came off the bench for much of this time, after returning to full health.

Plumlee’s breakout was put on hold when Brook rejoined the starting lineup shortly after the All-Star break. During All-Star weekend itself, however, Plumlee took part in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, where he demonstrated his incredible leaping ability by jumping over his brother Miles Plumlee for his second dunk. The fact that this guy is athletic enough to even be invited should have you excited.

On top of the fantastic physical tools Plumlee possesses, he has a very soft touch and a well developed post game. There is tremendous potential for offensive production here, the likes of which Portland has not seen from a center in nearly two decades. This same potential has been earning him quiet recognition since he entered the league; being chosen for the All-Rookie First team in 2014, as well as Team USA for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Looking at the business side of basketball, Plumlee represents a long-term asset at an unbeatably low price. Still on his rookie deal (drafted 22nd in 2013), he is owed just $1.4M in 2015-16, with a $2.3M team option the following year, one more year after which the Trail Blazers can extend a qualifying offer and make him restricted. That is already absurdly cheap, but it will seem even cheaper when the cap spikes in 2016, making his contract an even smaller percentage of the team’s overall salary.

In the short-term, Plumlee’s contract may give the Trail Blazers extra wiggle room to sign free agents. They can shed Kaman’s $5M contract if they so choose, since only $1M of it is guaranteed and they now have a suitable replacement. They can even let Lopez walk if they want to, and they would probably be okay if Plumlee improves his defense a little. Plumlee has proven that he can be a starting caliber center in the NBA already, and remember, he’s still only 25.

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He can also play power forward. Between him and the recently acquired Noah Vonleh, the Trail Blazers have two of the highest upside frontcourt youths in the league, primed to prosper in the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge if it comes to that (Neil Olshey has denied reports that Aldridge is set on leaving). Plumlee is valuable to Portland, both as part of a well-crafted contingency plan and as part of a future that may include Aldridge.

The Trail Blazers have been looking to bolster their frontcourt for a while now, and they have found a player that can be a major contributor on the court without handcuffing them off the court. Plumlee is proven, but still far from his ceiling, which is ideal for a team teetering on the brink of a rebuilding situation. While, yes, the defensive minded Hollis-Jefferson would have fit nicely—and was even on Portland’s shortlist of players to target in the draft—Plumlee offers more. He fills (possibly multiple) needs, and the Trail Blazers are confident that they can put him on the floor right away.

Mason Plumlee videos via TheBrooklynGame

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