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Portland Trail Blazers: 4 players to avoid during the 2020-21 free agency frenzy

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 14: DeMarre Carroll #9 of the Houston Rockets shoots agains the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of an NBA basketball game at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 14, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 14: DeMarre Carroll #9 of the Houston Rockets shoots agains the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of an NBA basketball game at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 14, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
DeMarre Carroll, Houston Rockets (Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports) /

player. 169. Scouting Report. F. 4. Pick Analysis. . DeMarre Carroll

In today’s NBA, there’s never such a thing as having too many players capable of defending out on the perimeter. Times that to the umpteenth power when you’re a team like the Portland Trail Blazers, the NBA’s second-worst team in terms of defending behind the arc.

For that reason, Portland will be looking for affordable, talented swingmen with the ability to defend out on the perimeter. With respect to DeMarre Carroll, one of this generation’s more underrated, multifaceted 3-and-D contributors, it feels wise to stray away this go round.

It’s been mostly forgotten about since the start of the 2019-20 season feels as though it happened a few years ago. But among those watching the Spurs closely, there was one question that even the most omniscient of experts couldn’t figure out: why is DeMarre Carroll not playing?

In 2018-19, he played his role so effectively in Brooklyn, that the Spurs offered him a three-year, $21 million deal … and then proceeded to give him 150 total minutes played over the season.

I scoured the film to watch all of those minutes, and a few things stood out. It appeared Carroll was a bit overwhelmed by the Spurs’ system, often out of place and affecting the pace of a play. But his three-point shot betrayed him a bit during the 2019-20 season, which is understandable given all of the different dynamics he was thrust into at once.

There are reasons for intrigue. After openly wondering if Carroll had arthritis in San Antonio, he regained a bit of that pep in Houston, taking defenders of all kinds off the dribble for attacks to the lane. And, his defense is certainly still serviceable, if nothing else. He deserves a chance to contend.

The burning question for myself is this: is the nine-game sample size in Houston enough to buy completely in? Or are their lower-risk options at play?