Blazers: 5 goals for Wade Baldwin to achieve in his contract season

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 7: Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the Utah Jazz during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Albeit a minuscule sample size, Baldwin displayed his affinity to score down low in 2017-2018 with the Blazers. During his seven NBA games in the red, black and white, he made 85.7% of his shots within five feet of the hoop. The best percentage among Portland’s high volume players was Evan Turner at 63.0%.

A major factor in his inside scoring success is his length and athleticism. At 6 feet 4 inches, Baldwin already outsizes many point guards. Tack on a 6-foot 11-inch wingspan and 38-inch maximum vertical for even more successful finishes over smaller defenders.

But despite the athleticism, Baldwin lacked the craftiness to get by opponents and not turn the ball over. His Summer League two-point field goal percentage of 43.9% and assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7 illustrate an improvement, but still plenty of room to improve.

Adding a reliable three-point shot will allow the guard to get by opponents easier. Still, he must develop his ball handling and decision-making once he gets into the paint to maintain that small-sample efficiency from 2017-2018.

Because Baldwin is still young and full of untapped potential, he can expedite this improvement by attacking the rim hard in his limited minutes next season.