Four of the pre-draft workout participants are projected to go late in the second round or undrafted, so why are the Blazers working them out?
The Blazers need a 3-and-D wing most out of the 2018 NBA Draft. However, a majority of the team’s pre-draft workout participants have been defensive-minded or three-point shooting guards.
We’ve looked at some of the more attractive prospects, like Khyri Thomas, De’Anthony Melton and Donte DiVincenzo.
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A couple big men have participated in workouts with Portland as well. Of the six forwards/centers to work out, only two are projected to go in the range of pick No. 24 (Chimezie Metu and Keita Bates-Diop).
NBA Scouting Live labels the other four as late second round or undrafted prospects. They are Ray Spalding, MiKyle McIntosh, Billy Preston and Ben Lammers.
Spalding, Preston and Lammers are each 6’10” while McIntosh is 6’7″. They all play the power forward or center position, rebound well and stretch the floor to an extent.
Why is Portland working out big men who likely won’t get drafted?
For the Blazers, eight roster players make up approximately $110 million of the salary cap heading into the 2018-2019 season. A NBA roster must be at least 13 players, meaning Portland needs to add five more with limited spending.
The roster reaches nine after taking the No. 24 pick, who will cost less than $2 million per year. Then, Portland’s four free agents can be re-signed for a sum total of roughly $30 million, putting the team payroll over the luxury tax line.
Any additional player will need to have a small contract and who better to do that with than an undrafted free agent. And because the No. 24 pick might be a guard, the post-draft pick up would be a forward.
Another option exists, though. The Blazers are hosting a veteran mini-camp, whose first participant was Rodney Stuckey.
Related Story: Rodney Stuckey first participant in Blazers’ veteran mini-camp
A few other ex-NBA players worked out with the Blazers in addition to Stuckey.
The Trail Blazers are working out free agents KJ McDaniels, Casper Ware, Kadeem Jack, Isaiah Cousins, Kyle Randall and several others over the next few days at a mini camp. Today, Blazers like Zach Collins, Wade Baldwin, Caleb Swanigan and Jake Layman played with/against the FAs.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 5, 2018
Any one of these guys, or the undrafted forwards, could become the final man on Portland’s roster for a cheap contract.
More information will come out depending on who the Blazers re-sign and how the draft goes.