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Portland Trail Blazers: Predicting the Blazers’ 2020-21 roster after the NBA Draft and free agency

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 27: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers loses the ball against Abdel Nader #11 and Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during their game at Moda Center on November 27, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 27: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers loses the ball against Abdel Nader #11 and Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during their game at Moda Center on November 27, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
(Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers) Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers — Starting frontcourt predictions:

— F: Trevor Ariza
— F: Danilo Gallinari
— C: Jusuf Nurkic

Here, there’s certainly some explaining to do. That aforementioned detail about the expanded luxury tax is going to be of immense benefit for the Trail Blazers, given that they will be able to use it to its full degree, at roughly $9.8 million.

Should the Blazers want to pursue a trade surrounding Ariza and his $12.8 million deal, it’ll almost certainly have to be for matching salaries.

The only six teams currently projected to have positive cap space — the Hawks, Knicks, Pistons, Heat, Hornets, and Suns — would almost certainly be better off building in some other way, unless they want to add an expiring contract, which Ariza will have in the summer of 2021. So, for the time being, he should be a safe pick for the starting small forward spot.

And, here’s where it gets sort of rocky. Along with Ariza’s return, the Portland Trail Blazers will be banking on the resurgence of Rodney Hood, along with Nassir Little’s second-year growth. Terry Stotts isn’t collecting clout and taking suggestions on Blazers Twitter, so that means we can expect to see Mario Hezonja in action, too.

With a role sure to diminish in some degree, would Carmelo Anthony be on board with something like that?

Perhaps things have changed. But in reading Jason Quick of The Athletic, it seems as though Anthony is somewhat deflective of this question; he seems to have that “we’ll cross that bridge when we get there” sort of mindset.

Well, the bridge has come. Even in being a Carmelo Anthony apologist, it’s difficult to imagine a situation where the Blazers remain healthy, and he’s being given a 35, 36-minute palette to paint with, and 14 shots per night to boot.

The Blazers provided him an opportunity to restrap his wings; the prediction here is that he flies and prospers elsewhere. Perhaps somewhere with say, Chris Paul, or even LeBron James.

That said, seeing the Portland Trail Blazers recruiting Danilo Gallinari hits that mix of bold and realistic simultaneously.

To hear so many Blazers’ analysts with a closer ear to the organization than myself — think Channing Frye on NBC Sports Northwest or B/R’s Greg Swartz — it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility, especially if Nurkic’s recruiting chops are what he thinks they are.

To be sure, how about a checklist?

Gallinari said he valued championship contention ahead of a big paycheck. Remember those five teams we mentioned earlier? Only the Miami Heat could feasibly offer that. The question is, would Gallinari take the $9 million MLE? Is that too big of a pay cut? Would he go even lower to allow the Blazers to snag him, and get another player?

In October, ESPN’s Bobby Marks had Gallinari pegged for $14-to-16 million. So, this isn’t the pay cut of the century. Personally, a LaMarcus Aldridge trade, or a Serge Ibaka, Jae Crowder signing floats my boat more. But the masses want Danilo Gallinari, and it’s a reasonable hope.