Pros and cons of each Portland Trail Blazers training camp veteran
By Andy Quach
2. Pros and cons of Marquese Chriss
Pros: Rim protection, athleticism at the five position, vertical spacing
Cons: Injury history, inconsistent
Marquese Chriss struggled to find his niche in the NBA for awhile, before earning a backup spot with the Golden State Warriors.
On an injury stricken Dub squad, Chriss provided high energy as their reserve center, flying in for weakside blocks and lobs.
Just as he was just starting to carve out a role in the league, he suffered a devastating leg injury.
The Blazers need a reliable third center, as Jusuf Nurkic and Cody Zeller have been injury prone the last few seasons. Adding Chriss, a bouncy, wiry big with prior leg injuries, could be counterproductive.
On the other hand, when healthy, Chriss brings elements to the table that Nurk and Zeller cannot. He can space the floor with his ability to catch lobs and open up the perimeter for Dame and the other ballhandlers on pick-and-rolls. He’s also flirted with a 3-point shot and could provide the option to play a five-out lineup.
In the end, is his ceiling worth forsaking the consistency and availability that is normally asked of a third big?