Portland Trail Blazers: Early look at 10 targets in 2020 Free Agency
Placing Eggs in Multiple Baskets
Perhaps one player in a weak free agency class can’t possibly be the one stop shop to fix all the Portland Trail Blazers’ problems. Instead, the Blazers could opt to spread their wealth and bring in multiple complementary players to slide in next to the core of Lillard and McCollum.
Pick Analysis. player. 24. 2. Scouting Report. SF. 17.5 PTS, 5.5 REB, 48.8 3P%. otto porter jr.
Portland’s love affair with Otto Porter started in 2018 and continued to warm up all the way to the trade deadline, where the Chicago Bulls stole the opportunity to add a perfect complementary wing from the Blazers. Last week, Rip City Project covered the possibility of making an impact trade for Porter this off-season.
If that falls through however, he could still potentially be had through free agency in 2020. Porter’s elite three-point shooting and above-average defensive ability is exactly what the Blazers are thirsting for at the wing position. Granted, Porter would have to opt out of his $28.5 million player option for Portland to acquire him in free agency, but perhaps the promise of a longer lucrative deal could sway him to hit the open market.
Pick Analysis. 7.4 PTS, 7.3 REB, 6.9 AST. 3. player. 41. Scouting Report. F. draymond green
Considering he is one of the most polarizing players in the entire league, the thought of adding Draymond Green to the Portland Trail Blazers is guaranteed to draw the ire of at least a few fans. His presence on the rival Warriors, well-documented trash talking and not exactly sexy style of play is enough to turn off many casual viewers.
However, Green’s skill set is precisely what the Blazers have been missing. While Green’s performance dipped this season, he was still a huge defensive positive while on the court. Draymond can generate extra possessions for any team through his ability to grab offensive boards, anticipate passing lanes and swatting incoming shots. While he may never return to his 2015-17 form, if anything his recent play has brought him back down to Portland’s stratosphere of affordability. Barring further regression, the Blazers would be fools to not at least initiate talks with the former Defensive Player of the Year.
13.7 PTS, 3.8 REB, 47.4 3P%. player. joe harris. 4. 147. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. SG
If you haven’t already realized, hopefully this article highlights just how badly the Portland Trail Blazers need three-point shooting. Lillard, McCollum and Seth Curry were the only Blazers that averaged above 34.5 percent from three-point range while attempting at least two shots from deep per game. With Curry set to leave via free agency, the Blazers need to bring in some help if they can’t cultivate it internally in the next year.
Who better to fill that void than the league leader in three-point percentage and reigning NBA 3-Point Contest champion Joe Harris? Any player that can put Steph Curry to shame would be a welcome addition to the Blazers. Set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2020, Joe Harris could sneakily become one of the most impactful additions that summer.