Portland Trail Blazers bargain free agent #7 – Nicolo Melli
The Blazers should look at getting players that can play off the ball this season. With guys like CJ McCollum, Damian Lillard, and Anfernee Simons, who all require the ball, so they are best to find guys who can play off the ball, and off these three.
Italian stretch big Nicolo Melli could be a nice stretch option and a good fit next to someone like Robert Covington in a small-ball lineup. The six-foot-nine Melli hasn’t shot that well from three yet in his NBA career, but his 45 percent from mid-range shows that he can really stroke it.
As he isn’t a great defender, he would need to play next to someone more mobile in the frontcourt, but as he is a great passer for his position, someone like Covington would be a great fit.
Melli’s market is likely to be the veteran’s minimum.
Portland Trail Blazers bargain free agent #8 – Alex Len
Alex Len is a 28-year-old backup big man who has bounced around the league since being drafted in the first round back in 2013.
Len spent most of his career with the dysfunctional Phoenix Suns before finding homes as a backup big on other teams around the league.
Len’s strengths are the traditional big men roles, rebounding, blocking shots, and strength around the rim. With the Blazers lack of health with their big men, it may be best to bring in a 12 – 18 minute-a-night guy who can perform the core roles well.
He has the physical tools to be disruptive on the backline at seven feet tall with a big seven-foot-four wingspan while also providing a rim finishing presence on the other end.