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Portland Trail Blazers sign backup point guard Jaylen Adams

By Stevie Cozens

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Jaylen Adams #10 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against the Indiana Pacers during the 2019 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Jaylen Adams #10 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against the Indiana Pacers during the 2019 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski announced on the 29th of June that the Portland Trail Blazers have signed backup point guard Jaylen Adams.

The Portland Trail Blazers needed to replace small forward Trevor Ariza after he announced in mid-June that he wouldn’t be participating in the NBA’s season return in Orlando in August.

NBA insider Woj broke the news of the signing, ex-Atlanta Hawks, and G-League point guard Jaylen Adams will be joining the team in Orlando after the signing was announced today.

Adams is a 24-year-old six-foot-two point guard who was the MVP runner-up in the G-league playing for the Wisconsin Herd. Adams went undrafted in 2018 before signing a two-way and then standard NBA contract with the Hawks. He played 34 games in the 2018/19 season before being waived in July of 2019.

Adams has then spent this year with the Herd, also being part of the Milwaukee Bucks training camp squad from August till October in 2019.

Interestingly, the Blazers have chosen to sign a backup point guard rather than a wing to replace Ariza. This probably means that Gary Trent Jr or Carmelo Anthony will be the starting small forward.

Adams will play backup point guard and help either Trent and or CJ McCollum on the second unit with Anfernee Simons. Adams can shoot a bit and is a decent rebounder too.

Adams is a strong defender, and he will help the second unit on that end. Even though he is only six-foot-two, he has a six-foot-six wingspan. Without their best defender now, in Ariza, they needed defensive personnel, especially at the guard spots.

It’s yet to be seen if Trent Jr or Melo will start at three, but it’s probably safe to assume that the Blazers will run some three-guard lineups with the likes of Trent or maybe even Simons or McCollum at the three. Don’t act so shocked at the later, Simons has played the three this year, and Trent also played a tiny bit at the four when the injuries were at their worst.

Adams is an excellent defensive signing for this team and is one of the best point of attack defenders left on the open market.

Let’s wait to see what contract Adams end up with and what his role will be.

Portland Trail Blazers: Three free-agency replacements for Trevor Ariza. dark. Next