Ball movement, or a lack of it, has been a hot topic recently when discussing this Trail Blazers team. Can they add a point guard at the deadline?
Ball movement might not fix the issues this Trail Blazers team has, but it can’t hurt them. Having to stagger Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum‘s minutes is a straight forward move for most teams with two stars. But what if Coach Terry Stotts was able to do this less by having a true floor general running the second unit?
This isn’t a criticism of anyone on the roster currently, but Kent Bazemore is a starter and can’t be expected to be the main distributor on the second unit. Anfernee Simons is still very young and not a great passer yet. This second unit needs someone who can break defenses down and set teammates up. Gary Trent Jr has shown he has potential as a knockdown shooter, while we all know how good Simons can be.
When Skal Labissiere returns he is a great lob threat, and we have even seen that he can be a trailer in transition for a three pointer or two. A lot of the second unit guys can be utilized better by having a legitimate ball handler on the second unit.
This would also take the pressure of Lillard at times. In defensive lineups Dame could play with another ball handler and play off the ball more. Especially in line-ups that had Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins and a potential defensive three.
Don’t take this article as us saying we need a point guard over forwards. A three and a four are still needed. But they cost a lot in trades and can be the main focus at the deadline. Where as back up point guards are a dime a dozen and can be had for second round picks or even by sending out cash.
Which points guards may be available and could help this team now and in the future?
De’Anthony Melton
Ball handlers on rookie or minimum deals are the best options for the Trail Blazers at the moment. Giving up a minimum salary or a second round pick for a player that their original team isn’t going to re-sign or wants to get off is an ideal move.
De’Anthony Melton of the Memphis Grizzlies would fit the bill perfectly. Melton is a sturdy combo-guard with play making and defensive skills. He can finish well at the rim and gets to the foul line often.
The areas the Blazers are struggling in this year are perimeter defense, ball movement, and getting to the line. Melton does these things well and could potentially be pried away from the Grizzlies with a second round pick. Melton may not necessarily be available but it would be worth testing the waters for a long-term prospect like him.
Raul Neto
Brazilian point guard Raul Neto is on the Philadelphia 76ers. Playing for the Utah Jazz up until this season, Neto is a defensive minded point guard with an improving shot who can control the pace of the game.
At 27 he would be one of the more experienced players on the Blazers bench if they were able to obtain him. He is a gritty player who can guard the one and the two irrespective of his lack of height at six-foot-one.
Neto is on a one-year minimum deal with the 76ers and has only been playing in garbage time for them anyway. Again, they could use the spare roster spot on a player like Neto, even if it was just for the rest of this season.
Allonzo Trier
If I was an NBA front office I would be offering the New York Knicks anything to take some of their under utilized young players off their hands. Last year Allonzo Trier was one of the feel good stories on an awful Knicks team. This year he has played half the games and half the minutes as they focus on their 40 power forwards.
Trier can heat up quickly as a scorer while having good size and strength around the rim. His playmaking skills are developing but in a better system where he can get consistent minutes his development wouldn’t be hindered. Trier is on the second year of a two-year seven million deal.
The Blazers need extra ball handling in the second unit. This shouldn’t be prioritized over forward help but the last roster spot could be used on a cheap point guard to get the second unit rolling. Too many times we see the bench has no one hitting double-digit points. Maybe one of the above additions can change this.