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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 Reasons to love the Cody Zeller signing

By Stevie Cozens

May 11, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Portland Trail Blazers have made some smart signings on the veterans minimum in the first 24 hours of free agency. Free Agent big man Cody Zeller was one of these.

With a limited payroll, and very few assets at their disposal to improve the team, the veteran’s minimum exception was always going to be a key tool in this off-season.

Here are 3 reasons to love the Portland Trail Blazers signing of Cody Zelle

Reason #1 – the signing is on the veteran’s minimum

The Blazers, prior to this season, have had issues with spending their salary cap and exceptions correctly. Big overpays for subpar free agents, and bloated deals for players that fall out of the league at their conclusion, have all been part of the Blazers salary cap issues in the last five years.

Come 2021, the Blazers are capped out. But, it seems like General Manager Neil Olshey has learned his lesson around these bloated deals.

In Cody Zeller, they have a solid backup big who maybe would have got paid $5 – $10 million in previous years. By signing him to the minimum this season, they keep their more important exceptions like the Bi-Annual and TaxPayer Exception open.

Zeller isn’t a world-beater, but he is a backup big, and backup bigs usually command the minimum or slightly more on playoff teams. The Blazers have bigger priorities for their big-money moves in the 2021 season when it comes to improving the team at the highest levels, so improving their bench on the cheap, with their first deal of the free agency window, is a win.