Should the Blazers go off the map and pursue Marvin Williams?
By Nate Mann
A select group of players find themselves in trade talks approaching the Feb. 8, but should the Blazers look outside of said group?
While the Blazers are reportedly pursuing Nikola Mirotic and Kent Bazemore, no advanced talks have surfaced on either. Our own Jack Rieger explored three separate trade possibilities, but again Neil Olshey and company remain quiet.
Portland needs to buy this trade deadline. With Jusuf Nurkic, Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier all set for new contracts this offseason, cap space must be cleared.
Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner all have unfavorable deals. To free the necessary cap, one or more of them should be included in any trade proposals.
Since we’ve exhausted ideas for popular trade targets (see: Kent Bazemore, Julius Randle), I’ll be looking at one out of left field.
Marvin Williams
Charlotte Hornets can part ways
Marvin Williams is in his second year of a four-year, $54.5 million contract. 2019-2020 (the final year) is a player option for Williams.
The struggling Charlotte Hornets are no doubt looking to move some players. They are five games out of eighth place in the East with a 17-25 record.
Williams is the third highest paid player on the Hornets. Nearly $75 million is locked up annually the next two years, and that’s not including Kemba Walker or Marvin Williams.
Walker, the franchise centerpiece, will get an expensive new contract after the 2018-2019 season.
There won’t be even close to enough room for Charlotte to offer Williams a new contract when his expires. Plus, paying over $10 million per year is too much for a guy averaging ten points and five rebounds in the current system.
Although Marvin Williams isn’t on the chopping block, the Blazers could easily interest the Hornets with a few younger, more useful players.
Potentially useful for Blazers
Portland need two things to improve their current group: outside shooting and a power forward. In today’s NBA, that’s an easy package deal to find (hint: Marvin Williams).
On his career, Marvin Williams is a 36% three-point shooter, making about one per game across 13 years of playing. In one less attempt per game than 2016-2017, Williams is connecting on the same 1.6 three-pointers per contest; he’s a career-best 44.8% from deep.
Williams would stretch the floor for the Blazers, allowing Jusuf Nurkic to operate the middle and both Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to drive through open lanes.
Plus, the size mismatches plaguing Portland’s defense would be fixed.
A starting lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu (at small forward), Williams and Nurkic shows size, defensive ability and dynamic scoring.
Sure, Marvin Williams isn’t the major name Blazers fans hope can turn the season around. Nikola Mirotic is probably a better option for boosting the team right now.
But his expiring contract and stretch forward playstyle fit what the Blazers need to target this trade deadline. One or more of Leonard, Turner and Harkless would complete the trade with Charlotte, freeing some cap space now and plenty more after next season. Re-signing any of Nurkic, Napier and Davis would only hurt Paul Allen’s wallet for one season, rather than two.
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Additionally, the Blazers could avoid losing any draft picks in the Williams swap. Chicago has prioritized draft picks in exchange for Mirotic, alternatively.
While I failed to mention any actual trade possibilities for Marvin Williams, a major shot in the dark I had that passed the ESPN Trade Machine was:
Hornets receive: Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard
Blazers receive: Marvin Williams, Jeremy Lamb
It’s tough to see the Hornets part ways with Jeremy Lamb during his breakout season, though, especially for Harkless and Leonard in return.