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Trail Blazers: Interesting X-Factors to look out for in the NBA Bubble

By Ryan Gaskin

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 08: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers smiles from the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during their preseason game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 08: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers smiles from the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during their preseason game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Jaylen Adams, Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Jaylen Adams, Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Jaylen Adams: Bench spark?

Every Portland Trail Blazers fan probably thought the same thing when Woj announced this one. Huh?

If Portland was going to add anyone, a lengthy, defensive wing seemed the most obvious. A 6-foot guard fresh out of the G-League? Not so much.

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t promote some optimism for Jaylen Adams. Adams spent the 2019-20 season with the Wisconsin Herd, where he averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals. The point guard also finished runner-up in G-League’s MVP race.

With Anfernee Simons and (potentially) Gary Trent Jr are currently the two guards primarily coming off the Blazers’ bench, so Jaylen Adams will have some competition for minutes. However, there may be a couple of ways in for him. Simons has struggled slightly this year, and is no way guaranteed time on the court ahead of anyone. Trent Jr, on the other hand, may even find himself in the starting lineup, leaving room for Adams in the second unit.

As we saw with Rodney Hood last season, the playoffs are built for role players to become overnight heroes. Now, Hood is not only bigger than Adams, he was also an established NBA player at that point, so in no way am I trying to compare the two in terms of current ability.

But, Hood did join up with the Blazers late in the season. He did turn into a scoring spark off of the bench, and he did become a hero overnight, after he hit that stunning three-pointer in the 4OT win over Denver.

Adams may not have much experience, but the Blazers clearly see something in him. Look out for the guard in the second unit, as he may have a big say in a couple of Portland’s games in the bubble.