Who should join Zach Collins in the Blazers reserve frontcourt?

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 08: Jock Landale #34 of the Atlanta Hawks, Zach Collins #33 and Caleb Swanigan #50 of the Portland Trail Blazers battle for a rebound during the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

Swanigan & Collins

Caleb Swanigan will likely get a chance to prove his chemistry with Collins before Leonard based on age and history (Leonard’s had his chances). The two second year forwards only played 38 minutes together last season, but have shared the floor much more in Summer League.

In this year’s Summer League, Swanigan was tasked with running the high pick-and-roll that Portland loves. He occasionally showed off his passing skills, but also lacked good decision making and turned it over too much. Nonetheless, Swanigan will be the primary screen-setter if he plays alongside Collins due to his bulkier frame.

Unlike Leonard, Swanigan focuses on cutting to the hoop after a majority of his screens. With a 12.5% three-point percentage, Blazers fans should be happy he has this mindset. In addition to avoiding excessive three-point attempts, Swanigan spending time under the hoop frees up the midrange and perimeter for Collins to operate freely.

Like Collins, Swanigan isn’t a reliable inside scorer. In the 2018 Summer League, he shot 39% from the field and consistently failed to capitalize on mismatches in the post. Because Collins has similar problems inside, opponents won’t collapse on the two when they have the ball in the paint. Portland’s perimeter players therefore won’t get the space to take high percentage threes and all of Olshey’s new signings become less effective in the skill they were acquired to do.

His time in the paint does result in rebounds, though, something that can’t be said as affirmatively with Leonard. Swanigan averaged 10.6 rebounds at the 2017 Summer League and 10.7 at this year’s; plus in minimal NBA time, he had a defensive rebounding percentage of 22.3%. The height disadvantage against other NBA-level big men might cause a problem, but Swanigan’s grit and 247-pound frame should help him grab most 50/50 boards.

As mentioned with Leonard staying under the hoop, Swanigan manning the paint and grabbing defensive rebounds allows Collins to run the floor. The Blazers ranked dead last in transition points per game in 2017-2018, so having an athletic big man on the fast break alongside Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum can create more easy bucket opportunities.

On the other end, Swanigan isn’t a strong defender primarily due to his lack of lateral speed. Summer League players consistently blew past him in the open court, leading to many of Collins’ blocks. In the NBA, guards will see Collins coming on help defense and find the open man for an easy basket.

Davis and Collins’ paired defense helped Portland’s bench stay in games and maintain leads, but combining Collins and Swanigan might cause them to foul too much on block attempts or to stop a guard in transition. When they avoid a foul, then the opponent likely gets an easy basket under the hoop from Collins needing to play help defense.

Next. Will the Blazers change its rotation to play new guards?. dark

Neither potential froncourt replacement pairs with Collins the way Davis did. Losing his mentor, plus the deficiencies of his replacements, will force Collins to try and do too much on both ends.

With Leonard, the Blazers often won’t have anyone under the hoop, making any attempt to penetrate off a screen obsolete. If he can assume a center role and focus on setting screens, staying near the paint, and communicating with Collins if he floats out to the perimeter, then the pairing might be able to do some damage offensively.

With Swanigan, the bench defense will get torched and the bench offense won’t have any sort of interior game. Swanigan must significantly improve his defense, roll on screens and stay within the three-point arc to allow Collins to maintain his role in the offense from last year and continue developing.

I think both big men will get their chance to assimilate with Collins in Portland’s frontcourt. If neither complement the prized second year forward like Davis did, then Stotts might turn to staggering Aminu and Harkless. The Blazers would be playing small ball for nearly all 48 minutes, which frees up more time at the guard positions for all the new signings but sacrifices defense.