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Portland Trail Blazers: Three lockdown defenders to sign in Free Agency

By Stevie Cozens

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 08, 2020 in Sacramento, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 08, 2020 in Sacramento, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers lockdown defender signing one – Torrey Craig

Torrey Craig is a free agent this offseason, and the Denver Nuggets may be unable to pay to retain him. With budding superstar Jamal Murray now deservedly earning a max deal alongside Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have financial constraints.

Like a lot of small-market teams, the Nuggets aren’t big on paying the tax. With a reduced salary cap in the coming season and the potential of no fans in arenas, many small-market teams will feel the pinch. When you combine this with the list of Nuggets players that are free agents, something has to give.

Mason Plumlee, Jerami Grant and Paul Millsap are all free agents alongside Craig, and it’s likely they won’t be able to afford them all.

If Craig is the odd man out, then the Blazers should look to use their mid-level exception or part of it on him.

Craig is one of the best defenders in the league, and is versatile around the type of guys he can defend. In the recently concluded playoffs, he guarded LeBron James in one series and Donovan Mitchell in another. He is six-foot-six with a six-foot-ten wingspan and has a body-type made for defending bigger guys, while he can slide his feet to keep up with quick guards.

Craig is a one-dimensional player in terms of his offense, but he shot 34 percent from three this season and finished at the rim at 73 percent. Both very respectable marks.

In the right type of offense, Craig is a good supplementary piece. He cuts hard and shoots it when he is open. He is also one of the best non-bigman offensive rebounders in the league.

I would expect Craig could get anywhere from $5 – $9 million on the open market. I’d be happy with the Blazers spending this over a multi-year deal if they moved on from either Carmelo Anthony or Trevor Ariza.