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

Portland Trail Blazers lockdown defender signing three – Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka would have to accept less money this off-season to come to Portland. But, with a league-wide cap squeeze and the Toronto Raptors needing to pay Fred Van Vleet while Pascal Siakam’s extension kicks in, a pay cut could be on the cards.

All three of the players mentioned in this article are over 30. Though Craig will get a payrise as he only earnt the minimum last season, Millsap and Ibaka will certainly take less than the $23 + million they earned in the 2019/20 season.

Ibaka, because of his shooting touch, can play the four as well as the five. Ibaka has one of the sweetest midrange jumpers in the game, and though he just shoots it at a standstill, he is always a threat because of his 46 percent career accuracy.

As a three-point shooter, he is much improved also. He was a 35 percent three-point shooter in his days with the Oklahoma City Thunder, now he is shooting the same percentage, but he has tripled his volume to three attempts a night.

Ibaka’s calling card, though, is his defense. As a two-time block champion and three-time All-Defensive selection, he is one of the game’s best rim protectors. Though he is primarily a center these days, he isn’t terrible defending in space, as he still recovers well to the rim.

In last year’s NBA finals, Ibaka came through with some massive performances on both ends off the bench to ice the championship for the Raptors.

Ibaka could be the perfect backup big man for this Blazers team if he is surplus to requirements in Toronto.

This summer will be different for many free agents. There is a high chance that many guys take one-year deals to enter free agency again in 2021. The Blazers could benefit from this and bring in some defensive vets. Any of these three would help them transform on the less glamorous end of the floor.