Portland Trail Blazers: 10 best free agent options still on the board
8. Trey Burke, Guard
Time to face an unfortunate reality about competing in the NBA. Oftentimes, it’s the healthiest team that comes out on top at the end of the season. Therefore, the Portland Trail Blazers must plan accordingly if they hope to survive a grueling 82 game season and subsequent playoff push.
It’s awfully grim to imagine a reality where Damian Lillard suffers a serious injury, but preparing for the worst is why the front office makes big bucks. Lillard and Anfernee Simons cannot be the only two players on the roster capable of playing point guard, which is where Trey Burke comes into play.
As a journeyman, Burke would jump on the opportunity to play an important role for a contending team. He excelled last year after being traded from the unstable Knicks to the Mavericks. In 25 games with Dallas, Burke attained a 17.9 PER and 57.4 true shooting percentage. He’s no defensive stalwart, but an instant-offense plug is a great asset to have as your third-string point guard.
7. Vince Carter, Forward
Similar to the aforementioned Korver, Vince Carter is an aging sharpshooter in the twilight of his career. In fact, Carter has gone on record to announce his planned retirement following this upcoming season. He shot 38.9 percent from the 3-point line on over four attempts per game. Unlike Korver however, Vinsanity brings a lot more to the table than just a sweet shooting stroke.
Last season Carter proved to play a key role in helping Trae Young develop his playmaking abilities by always being in the right place at the right time. 55 percent of Carter’s triples came from catch-and-shoot opportunities. 74.3 percent of his shots came without a defender within four feet of his shot.
Additionally, VC proved he still had a bit of his dunk contest magic in his legs by making smart cuts to the baskets and getting plenty of assisted dunks. Carter is a true student of the game and would do whatever necessary to help the Blazers get a ring.