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Portland Trail Blazers cut all their training camp invitees

By Doug Patrick

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: A basketball is shown on the court during the championship game of the 2017 Summer League between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 110-98. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: A basketball is shown on the court during the championship game of the 2017 Summer League between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 110-98. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers invited three players to their training camp this year, Chinanu Onuaku, Gary Payton II, and Cameron Oliver. All three were recently cut.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Portland Trail Blazers have cut all three of their training camp invitees: Gary Payton II, Cameron Oliver, and Chinanu Onuaku.

Although the Blazers have two open spots for two-way contracts, they will keep these places vacant for now.

However, these cuts should not be especially surprising. All three played very limited minutes this preseason, often only coming in towards the end of halves. Payton averaged 8.1, Onuaku 5.2, and Oliver 4.2.

Payton ended the preseason with four points per, 1.3 assists, and on board per game. And it never seemed like he had much of a chance of making the roster, considering the depth Portland features at the guard spot with Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Seth Curry, Wade Baldwin IV, and Anfernee Simons.

Payton is a decent defender who can create his own shot. But his timeline for being a rotational player on an NBA team may be dwindling as he will turn 26-years-old in December.

Oliver had one point, 2.3 rebounds, and .3 assists per game. The forward rarely saw the floor for more than a short burst, and he didn’t pop at all when he did.

Onuaku averaged 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and .3 assists. I had high hopes for the undersized center prior to training camp, but he didn’t look like anything special when he got time on the floor.

But the Blazers may find themselves thin at the center spot if Nurkic goes down, depending on how much they want to use Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins in this big man spot. A guy like Caleb Swanigan can probably give them all and more that Onuaku would’ve been able to, though.

If here is one position I could see the Blazers later offering a two-way contract to, it would be the center spot – especially if the Blazers find they prefer to play both Leonard and Collins at the four spot. But Onuaku will not be their guy.

Next. Harkless could become a true 3-and-D wing. dark

While these guys couldn’t secure roster spots in Portland, we hope they can make it work elsewhere.