Torrey Craig
If the Denver Nuggets decide not to bring defensive ace Torrey Craig back, then I would be comfortable with the Blazers committing $7 – $8 million of it to get him to play here. Craig isn’t a great offensive player, but he’s an excellent and versatile defender.
His offensive game is improving too. His at rim finishing is up to a healthy 73 percent now, and he shot 34 percent on threes this season and 47 percent in last year’s playoffs.
The Blazers need to look at defensive personnel for next season. Having the league’s third-best offense was great, but having no one bar the 21-year-old Gary Trent Jr. to guard the games big wings was a massive problem.
Craig has ideal size at six-foot-six with a plus wingspan. He is always tasked with defending the opposition’s best player, be that Donovan Mitchell or LeBron James. Craig is a premium stopper who has a better offensive game than, say, someone like Roberson as mentioned above.
He is also an excellent rebounder, a problematic area for the team this season. Having positional size is such an essential part of a team’s defensive identity.
Craig is 29 but is in just his third NBA season, so a three-year deal around $8 million-a-year may secure his services, dependent on what happens with the salary cap.
There will be no stars available with the $10 million that the Blazers will have to spend, but they can get value and winning players with this amount.