Rip City Project
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3 former Portland Trail Blazers to bring back in Free Agency

By Stevie Cozens

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers for a loose ball during the second half of a game at Staples Center on November 07, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers for a loose ball during the second half of a game at Staples Center on November 07, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Former Blazer #3 – Nicolas Batum

Nicolas Batum has had a massive bounce-back year for the LA Clippers this season. After being drafted by the Houston Rockets and then traded to the Blazers on draft night, Batum played some of his basketball with the strong Blazers teams of the mid-2010s.

Knowing that a massive payday was coming for Batum and wanting to go down a different direction, the Blazers traded him to the Charlotte Hornets in 2015, where he got a big five-year $100 million deal.

He had three great years on this deal before things started to fall apart on a Charlotte team trying to re-build. After falling out of their rotation in 2020, he got waived in the last off-season, with the Clippers then signing him to the minimum. With his poor year in 2020, it looked like his career may be coming to an end, but he has been back to his all-around best on this Clipper team.

Batum is a player who can do it all, and at his best, is a premium role player in the NBA.

He would be a great starting power forward for the Blazers as he would be a defensive upgrade, pushing Robert Covington to the three.

As a defender, Batum is a big six-foot-eight with a long seven-foot-one wingspan. He can guard threes and fours, and in this playoffs, he was even playing the five for some parts of it.

Batum has always been a strong rim protector, and he defends well without fouling too. Because he is also a great rebounder, he can be a nice fit next to the smaller backcourt of the Blazers.

On offense, Batum is one of the best passers at the forward position, playing like a true point forward in this era. He is a great finisher at the rim and an excellent offensive rebounder. Though he isn’t an elite shooter, his career rate of 36 percent shows he has to be guarded out there.

His passing from the four spot would really open up the floor for the shooters on this team.

Batum is still only 32-years-old, but he is ready to win now. I don’t know if their small exceptions will be enough to keep him, but he would be a great fit on this roster if he wants to come back.

Next. Portland Trail Blazers: 3 prospects worth trading into the NBA Draft for. dark