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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 best players to sign to the final two roster spots

By Stevie Cozens

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Iman Shumpert #9 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the LA Clippers on January 27, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Iman Shumpert #9 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the LA Clippers on January 27, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers still have two roster spots left to complete their team for the NBA’s return. Who are the best free agents left on the market?

Before the COVID-19 postponement, around the trade deadline, the Portland Trail Blazers dumped big man Skal Labissiere to the Atlanta Hawks. When Trevor Ariza, and then Caleb Swanigan, both opted out of the NBA’s return in Orlando, this meant there were three open roster spots.

One was used to sign point guard Jaylen Adams, thus leaving two open roster spots. With the increased possibility of sickness and injury, the Blazers should use one or both of these roster spots to provide an insurance policy, or just have another body for rotation minutes.

The most pressing needs this team has, are finding competent big men to back up Zach Collins, Jusuf Nurkic, and Hassan Whiteside. And then perimeter defense and shot creation on the wing.

Almost all of the more reliable free agents have been signed, and NBA rules also mean that anyone who has played overseas in the last season can’t be signed, ruling out the likes of ex-Denver Nuggets big man Kenneth Faried. There are still some options left, though.

Which three could the Blazers sign to join Lillard and co in Orlando?

Option one – Isaiah Hartenstein

It was surprising to see the Houston Rockets cut second-year big man Isaiah Hartenstein. We know that they want to play very small most of the time, but this left just one traditional big man on the entire roster.

This year, with an increased role and the chance to play significant minutes, the 22-year-old Hartenstein had a strong December, averaging 9 points and seven rebounds in only 17 minutes a night.

He is an excellent finisher at the rim, and because of his seven-foot, 250-pound frame, he can finish through contact for and-ones, while also being an excellent rebounder.

Hartenstein is raw, but the Rockets obsession with three and d wings was probably a big reason for him being cut. With Swanigan probably not returning next season, and then Wenyen Gabriel potentially being in the same boat, signing someone like Hartenstein to a two-year minimum deal wouldn’t be a bad move.

The deal could be for the rest of this season, with a second non-guaranteed year for 2021 that could be guaranteed if he proved himself in Orlando or next season’s training camp.

The Blazers have three traditional big men as the mainstays of their rotation but have no capable backups in case of injury/illness or foul trouble. With 96 minutes required at Power Forward / Center and coach Terry Stotts playing Carmelo Anthony at the four, they will need one or two more bodies to back the leading trio up.