Rip City Project
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How do Ariza, Gabriel and Swanigan fit on this Trail Blazers team?

By Stevie Cozens

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 13: Trevor Ariza #0 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 13, 2020 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 13: Trevor Ariza #0 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 13, 2020 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers Caleb Swanigan (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Caleb Swanigan

Swanigan is amazingly on his way back to Portland after being drafted by the Blazers in 2017 and then traded away in 2018. Swanigan is in the last chance saloon in terms of his NBA career. With his fourth year option declined by the Kings this may be his last chance to impress upon an NBA front office that he has a future in this league.

Swanigan is a throwback to old NBA power forwards, he is 260 pounds but only six-foot-nine. As an undersized center, he doesn’t stretch the floor or play plus defense. He is a physical presence, but the power-forward position is so important as a scorer in the league these days.

Swanigan’s numbers in the G-league haven’t been bad, but he hasn’t shown the type of dominance that would show he is ready for end of bench minutes on an NBA team. Maybe the Blazers can get something out of him, but this is looking unlikely. It’s doubtful they would have traded him away in 2018 if they thought that he was worth keeping.

In all reality, Swanigan probably has a good NBA career if he is drafted fifteen years ago. But as a tweener power forward whose strengths are at the rim and in the paint only, he is a player of yesteryear.

The only hope for Swanigan at this point would be to slim down and try to be a rim running energy guy like Montrezl Harrell. There is still a place in this league for a player like Harrell. He is a bit lighter than Swanigan but came into the league three years older as a rim running big who hits the offensive boards hard, and is a great finisher in the pick and roll.

Swanigan could learn a lot from Harrell who has improved his game for the fifth straight year in a row.

This could be a bridge too far for Swanigan, but he may have a chance to play none the less.