The Portland Trail Blazers can take an impact player with the 16th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Which three swingmen have a chance of contributing right away?
The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off a year that, while disappointing, showed one of the most impressive playoff-pushes in recent memory. The team showed fight, and while moral victories aren’t worth much, they showed that next year, when injuries (hopefully) aren’t as much of an issue, the Blazers should be right back in the contender conversation.
Owning the 16th pick in the upcoming NBA draft should undoubtedly help if the team can draft an immediate contributor.
While this is considered by many to be a weak draft in terms of star potential, the draft is very deep with quality role-players, even starter-level talent.
This draft has some depth specifically at a position of need for the Blazers, and that’s one the wing.
With Carmelo Anthony possibly on his way out, the team looks set to ask a lot of Gary Trent Jr. and Nassir Little next season. Trent had himself a great showing in the bubble, but it isn’t a certainty that it will carry over into next season. Little, meanwhile has shown flashes but is far from a finished product.
There is a long list of players who can contribute as early as next season for the Blazers. The team has options to trade up ( Devin Vassell / Issac Okoro ) or down ( Desmond Bane / Tyler Bey ), but staying pat could be the best decision they make.
Here are three swingmen the Blazers’ could target with the 16th pick.