Portland Trail Blazers backup point guard #3 – Raul Neto
Raul Neto is a 28-year-old six-foot-one point guard. He recently had his most productive season in the NBA as a point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Neto is a tough defensive point guard who can guard the point of attack well although he is just six-foot-one. He has bulked up significantly in his time in the league, as evidenced by his efficiency finishing at the rim.
Neto spent four years with the Utah Jazz before signing a one-year deal with the 76ers.
As a point guard, he is a backup, but his varied skill set makes him an excellent fit for the Blazers. Neto has never had enough minutes to increase his volume, but he is a strong three-point shooter none the less. His basketball reference page shows he is a 37.9 percent three-point shooter on around 1.5 attempts a game.
Neto’s main calling card, though, is his defense. As the Blazers ranked 27th on that end in the 2019/20 season, adding some starch to the bench defense should be a priority. If Anfernee Simons could play alongside a guy like Neto with Trent at the three, they would instantly improve their defensive efficiency.
Neto can defend bigger players because of his size and speed. He is tough on both ends, and in some ways, his game is like Trent’s.
Neto is also a minimum deal candidate; a one-year would probably suffice.