Portland Trail Blazers: Breaking down the off-season, move by move

Signing Harry Giles to a one-year veterans minimum deal

Last but not least, the signing of Harry Giles. In terms of low-cost moves that could pan out down the line, this was one of the best that any team made in the off-season.

The veterans minimum is its own exception, meaning it doesn’t eat into any of the midlevel, bi-annual, or other exceptions. It does contribute to the number that goes towards the tax, though, so signing a third big man at $2 and a half million was great work by Olshey.

I was surprised that Giles didn’t have a bigger market, but I also think he could have multi-year deals from other teams at the minimum, but he may have accepted a deal with a playoff contender to put himself on the map.

Though Kanter is the backup center at the moment, with Giles superior skillset on both ends, there’s no reason that he couldn’t overtake him in the depth chart.

Giles is a superior passer and defender, and though he won’t be shooting a lot of them, his jumper is of the quality that he could hit corner threes if he is allowed to take them.

Even if he doesn’t overtake Kanter, Giles can work towards staying in the NBA. He is just 22, and he has everything you want in a modern big man.

If he can stay injury-free, there is no reason he can’t have his best NBA season to date.

Neil Olshey and the Blazers front office have improved a team that won 53 games two years ago and had the third-best offense in 2020; this has been a great off-season.