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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 Free Agents that pair well with Damian Lillard

By Stevie Cozens

Apr 28, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) slaps hands with forward Garrett Temple (17) in front of New York Knicks center Taj Gibson (67) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) slaps hands with forward Garrett Temple (17) in front of New York Knicks center Taj Gibson (67) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers free agent option #2 – Frank Ntilikina

The Blazers haven’t had a strong guard defender to take care of the point of attack for a long time. They have had strong forward defenders, and have Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr on the team, but they don’t have that dynamic one-on-one defender that can guard guys like Trae Young and Ja Morant.

In French restricted free agent Frank Ntilikina, there may be a chance for the Blazers to put some money down on a guy who has elite physical tools and massive defensive upside.

Sadly, for 2018 lottery pick Ntilikina, things just haven’t panned out. After four years with the dysfunctional New York Knicks where they only got things together recently, Ntilikina has fallen completely out of the rotation.

He has a chance now, depending on what the Knicks do, to make a name for himself elsewhere.

At just 22-years-old still, that could be as a defensive specialist for the Blazers. Standing six-foot-four with a colossal seven-foot-wingspan, Ntilikina is just the type of guy who could play next to Dame in specific lineups, even maybe playing the three in some lineups with McCollum on the court too.

Though he doesn’t much of an offensive game in terms of his shooting, he can still make shots for others as a backup creator. With the Blazers possessing a clear top three offense in the league, they should look to bring in defense-only guys.

Frank could be that guy that comes in for between 12 and 18 minutes a night, to guard the opposition’s best defender, and prove he still has value in the league.

If the Knicks decide not to extend him a qualifying offer, then he becomes an unrestricted free agent and the Blazers put an offer out there. Similar to Harry Giles last year, giving a vet’s min or a touch more isn’t much of a risk.