Ben Golliver on Portland Trail Blazers Acquisitions: They’re Taking “Buying Low to a Whole New Level”

Washington Post writer Ben Golliver said the Portland Trail Blazers were taking “buying low to a whole new level” when discussing the newest Rip City acquisitions.

On the latest episode of Open Floor: Sports Illustrated’s NBA Podcast, hosts Andrew Sharp and Ben Golliver discussed the latest acquisitions by the Portland Trail Blazers, namely Rodney Hood and Enes Kanter. Rip City acquired both of these players prior to the NBA trade deadline and each may factor into Portland’s postseason rotations. Both Sharp and Golliver feel these transactions were low-risk, high-reward move to get past the first round of the playoffs and nothing more, a feat the club has not completed over the past two seasons.

The conversation went like this:

"Golliver: “Portland really took buying low to a new level, didn’t they? Going out and getting Rodney Hood and Enes Kanter in like a back-to-back…Sharp: “I think Rodney Hood can help them. I’m not even saying that as part of the bit.”Golliver: “Look, and there’s people who think Enes Kanter can help them too. It’s not – I mean, like they’re – they’re not deep. They were not deep. So, these are guys that have been around, they’ve played minutes. I think, with Kanter, the hope is, if you get into matchups where you’re getting beast-ed inside in the first round, Kanter can push back a little bit. I think he’s the kind of guy who can’t play in the second round and afterwards in the Western Conference.”Sharp: “Yeah.”Golliver: “But if you’re Portland, winning a first round series, after getting swept last year, is such a big accomplishment that it’s worth taking a chance that he’s going to embarrass you on Twitter for three months straight.”Sharp: “For sure. [laughs] I guess so.”"

The Blazers were embarrassed in last year’s first round by the New Orleans Pelicans. A double teaming scheme focused around Jrue Holiday ,and Anthony Davis‘s general prowess swept Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum out of the postseason despite their earning a three-seed in the loaded Western Conference.

Wanting to get out of the first round in 2019 after being swept by the Pelicans and Golden State Warriors in consecutive years is an understandable goal. Rip City’s roster holds enough talent to warrant a second round appearance.

However, with Portland’s newest acquisitions in Rodney Hood, Enes Kanter, and Skal Labissiere, the team looks more focused on pushing past the preliminary round than making themselves into actual Finals contenders.

Hood has fit well into secondary lineups in his first six appearances. Most of his time is spent with the faster-paced group during second quarters or substituted for Maurice Harkless in a mostly starters lineup. Through his first four games, he averages 9.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 23 minutes per game.

There is always the threat of a drop-off from Hood, especially following his performance with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Before coming over, he was averaging 16.8 points for the Utah Jazz and looked primed to become a first-option on offense prior to Donovan Mitchell‘s emergence. As a Cav that year, Hood put in just 10.8 points per contest and all but disappeared in the postseason.

Kanter has yet to play for Portland, but he has become an offensive center that’s increasingly known for his meme-worthy behavior than his on-court prowess – like his recent kissing the New York Knicks logo after fans chanted for him to enter the game. Though currently averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10.5 boards, Kanter remains a defensive liability. However, his fierce glass cleaning and ability to score in the post could make him a factor in a specific matchup early in the postseason.

Labissiere is likely a project, rather than a piece that can help immediately. Judging from what the Blazers exchanged for him in G-Leaguer Caleb Swanigan, it’s unlikely he will amount to much more than a flash in the pan for a few minutes a couple times this season. Maybe he transforms into a better Zach Collins, but I wouldn’t bet on that right now.

It’s hard to disagree with Golliver and Sharp. The trade deadline had Portland fans fantasizing about Anthony Davis, Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes, and even Nikola Mirotic. Instead, they nabbed Hood, Kanter, and Labissire – all fine players in their own right but not on the same level as other trade targets.

No doubt, the Blazers’ precarious ownership situation makes it more difficult to make bigger moves. So, we shouldn’t hold these February transactions against them. Portland wanted to improve their team, and they did so – just more incrementally than many may have hoped.

Maybe Hood wins a game singlehandedly in the first round this year or is a major factor in a second-round matchup. Maybe Kanter gives an opposing small ball center problems in April. Labissiere could help win a game or two to push the Blazers into a homecourt advantage.

Will they make getting past the San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, or Sacramento Kings easier? Likely.

Will any of these additions be keys to defeating the Warriors, Rockets, Denver Nuggets, or Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series? Probably not.

There’s nothing wrong with improving on the fringes, but we also shouldn’t put pressure on these new players to improve the club’s ceiling in a truly meaningful way.

Only time will prove me wrong…