Five under-the-radar free agents for the Portland Trail Blazers to consider this offseason
F / G. 149. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. . Andre Roberson. 2. player
Current Situation: 3-year, $30 million
Offseason Contract: UFA in 2020 offseason
In all likelihood, it’s been a long time since you’ve heard the name Andre Roberson. The last time he took the floor these moments set the scene for the NBA:
— A discussion was among us, as to if Ben Simmons was an actual rookie or not.
— Kawhi Leonard was a San Antonio Spur.
— Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks snuck into the Playoffs as a No. 7 seed.
So, we’ve come far.
But after multiple setbacks, Roberson announced in mid-April that his long journey was reaching its endpoint. In “Catching Up with the Family” — a University of Colorado basketball-based podcast, Roberson said that his return was imminent.
"“I’m kind of past the rehab stage,” Roberson said. “I’m almost to the point where I should be playing, honestly. But I’m still taking it a day at a time until I get back into our medical staff’s hands and get reevaluated. Just staying patient through it all and knowing that the light is right there at the end of the tunnel. It’s definitely been a long journey and it’s coming to an end.”"
The former 2016-17 All-Defensive Second Teamer paired a physical, fast smashmouth brand of “D” with a 6-foot-7 frame and 6-foot-11 wingspan that made him one of the NBA’s absolute best.
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Along with Paul George and Steven Adams, Roberson helped the Thunder become an absolute bulwark of a defensive unit. But with him off-court, the Thunder went from giving 96.4 points per 100 possessions to 107.6, a league-high 11.2 differential.
The Thunder have sense went into their lab, and brought out another crop of long-armed, uber-athletic defensive deterrents in Luguentz Dort, Terrance Ferguson, Deonte Burton and Darius Bazley. They aren’t to sacrifice their chemistry to try and get Roberson involved when the season resumes.
Perhaps Damian Lillard can wave him over?
Watching Roberson’s shooting struggles over the last few seasons has been one of the more painfully-entertaining things we’ve been subjected to watch. But rehab typically gives players a chance to iron out the kinks.
Having not played in each of the last two seasons could put Roberson in a prove-it situation. The Portland Trail Blazers could be the team that gives him the platform to do so.