Portland Trail Blazers: 3 best bargain bin free agents at each position
By Andy Quach
Portland Trail Blazers Veteran Minimum Free Agent Targets: Shooting Guards
1. Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley in his heyday would be a perfect free agent target for the Portland Trail Blazers. He would have provided elite perimeter defense, secondary playmaking, shot creation, and outside shooting.
While his mileage has started to slow him down, playing for a competitive team could rejuvenate all of those qualities in him. Still only 30 years old, Bradley would give the Blazers their best guard defender and a nice backup floor general.
He can play on or off-the-ball as needed by Portland depending on the route Anfernee Simons takes with his development. If Bradley can return to form, signing him is the type of under the radar move that can make for a surprise dark-horse contender.
2. Tyler Johnson
Tyler Johnson was off to a great start in his career playing with the Miami Heat, but has fallen off the last couple of seasons.
He recovered his shooting stroke with the Brooklyn Nets last year, hitting 36 percent of his 3-point attempts on a little over three tries per game. In his time with the Heat, he wasn’t just an off-ball shooter though. He also displayed a little pick-and-roll playmaking and quality perimeter defense.
If he can return to the form he showed with the Heat, he’ll be a steal for the veteran’s minimum.
3. Denzel Valentine
Denzel Valentine never lived up to his draft position coming out of Michigan State. The Chicago Bulls drafted him hoping they acquired a point-forward who can lock down on defense and score on all three levels.
Instead, they got an average 3-and-D type player with a streaky jumper. Still, the Blazers need someone who can guard multiple positions, hit open threes, and provide a little secondary playmaking. Valentine would be a quality find for the minimum.