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

By Nate Mann | Aug 20, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 08: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers 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) /

Fight over screens

The 6-foot 11-inch wingspan comes in handy again when Baldwin fights through screens.

In perhaps the best defensive game of his brief two-year career, Baldwin defended Chris Paul and James Harden. Both are outside threats, so Baldwin needed to go over every screen to avoid giving up an easy three points.

Most of the time, he bent around Clint Capela and stopped the three-point attempt, but a few lapses provided Paul and Harden with enough room to drill a three.

As potentially the only Portland guard with the ability to fight over screens and stay with his man, Baldwin will be tasked with defending the offensively better opposing guard. There’s no margin for error in navigating screens if his matchup sinks threes like Paul and Harden do.

If he masters the ability to get through screens, Baldwin can earn a rotation spot because he’ll have an attribute no other guard can match.