Portland Trail Blazers: 3 trades to improve the terrible team defense

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Trade #3 – Hood and a second-round for PJ Tucker

P.J. Tucker is probably the perfect defensive upgrade for this Blazers team.

Because of his ability to play the four or the five at just six-foot-six, the 35-year-old Tucker is a great fit next to an offensive player like Melo.

Tucker has fashioned a nine-year NBA career because of his hustle on the glass, exceptional defense, and his ability to hit corner threes at some of the highest volumes in the league.

Tucker’s offensive game is limited to just shooting threes, and dribble handoffs or passes from the perimeter. As a corner three shooter, he has finished in the 95th percentile or higher for the last four seasons, while shooting 37, 38, 36, and 52 percent in these seasons.

The Blazers need a guy who can play excellent and pot away from three. Tucker is not only one of the best small-ball big men in the league, but he is also great at forcing turnovers.

For the Rockets, they would get a second-round pick and then a player that fits their timeline better, in Hood.

Hood could be a spot-up shooter around John Wall and Caris LeVert as they rebuild.

The Blazers are in desperate need of an upgrade on the defensive end. Any of these three options could help them shore up that end.

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