The Portland Trail Blazers should sign Torrey Craig from the Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are in the middle of one of the greatest runs in their history. Up one game to nil in the finals over the Milwaukee Bucks, they are looking to grab their first title in decades.

In the thick of that finals run, is tough defensive forward Torrey Craig. The Portland Trail Blazers should look to sign him in 2022.

One of the main reasons the Suns have managed to reach the NBA Finals, is their plethora of tough NBA wings. Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and even Abdel Nader who played in the regular season, they have a multitude of guys who can defend the game’s top threats.

With the Blazers lack of defensive wings, they were not even able to stop a weakened Denver Nuggets team. The disparity in personnel between a finals team like the Suns, is noticeable.

The Blazers have limited funds to play with in the 2021 free agency period, likely no more than $5.5 million. Outside of that, it will be the veteran’s minimum exception that they can use to sign players.

Enter Torrey Craig. With the Blazers likely to spend their $5 million on one strong free agent, they will need to fill out their last few roster spots with minimums.

Craig will be a free agent when this finals run with the Suns ends.

He is a 30-year-old six-foot-seven forward who has a near seven-foot-wingspan. Focussing first on his offensive game, he is a nice cutter who can attack in straight lines off the dribble and finish strongly at the rim. He isn’t much of a threat from three, but he has improved his three-point percentage from 31 to 34 to 36 percent this season in the years he has been in the NBA.

Interestingly, he also shoots better in the playoffs, averaging 39.7 percent on threes in the post-season. Craig plays like a four on offense, but he is good enough to be able to make plays at the rim, something the Blazers need more of in 2022.

Because of his body-type, and the fact he stands at six-foot-seven, Craig is a great bench option next to a guy like Carmelo Anthony. He can defend the opposition’s twos and threes, and even switch up to a guy like LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard when the time comes.

Craig isn’t going to lock up the opposition’s best player, but on the veteran’s minimum, he is great value and will slow down an opponent’s offense.

Craig is also great as a help-side shot-blocker, or someone who can get back in transition for blocks too. He is also excellent on the offensive glass, gobbling up o boards at one of the highest rates in the league for his position, sitting in the top 10 percent every year he has been in the league.

Though he doesn’t have the big name that some fans want, Craig is a value proposition who has playoff, and now finals experience.

A multi-year deal at the minimum should be enough to secure Craig’s services.