Grading Blazers players by position, forecasting next year’s depth chart
By Reese Kunz
Centers: Jusuf Nurkic, Drew Eubanks, Trendon Watford
Grade: C+
Reasoning: Nurkic is averaging 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists on the season. He’s a top-20 rebounder in the league, taking full advantage of his 7-foot, 290-pound frame. Nurkic’s floor vision is an underrated part of his game; 3 assists a night is great for a center.
From a scoring standpoint, Nurkic can keep defenses honest from three, has a solid post-up game, and has a decent mid-range shot. However, his flaw is on defense. He often gets exploited in pick-and-rolls and has trouble guarding out on the perimeter.
Eubanks and Watford are capable backups that mostly held their own when Nurk missed games with injuries. Eubanks averages more than a block a game; defensively, he can protect the rim and be a catalyst.
Watford, listed at 6-8, is undersized for a center. However, he makes up for what he lacks in size with shooting and playmaking versatility.
The bigs aren’t a positional strength for the Blazers. There are too many flaws to give them a higher grade, specifically on the defensive side of the ball.