3. Tony Snell gives the Portland Trail Blazers the depth to be able to make moves in the future
With Snell on the roster, the Blazers now have a total of six players who can slot in at guard: him, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Norm, Anfernee Simons, and McLemore. That’s not even counting Nassir Little or CJ Elleby who could find themselves a part of the regular rotation at some point next season.
This gives them significant depth at the guard position which opens the possibility for a trade using a part of their surplus as capital.
Could Snell’s signing be a signal that Neil Olshey is open to the possibility of moving CJ McCollum? Portland fans should certainly hope so if they want to compete for a title in the near future.
Whether it’s CJ or one of the other myriad guards that the Blazers now employ, having Snell on the team certainly makes a trade a much more realistic potential move.
Whether or not Olshey pulls the trigger on a trade this offseason, Snell’s signing was a “marginal” move that could make a big impact on the team. Portland wound up with an elite shooter off their bench at the low, lost cost of a veteran’s minimum contract.
Even if his signing isn’t the domino that detonates a major trade, his acquisition is an incredible, underrated addition.