The Portland Trail Blazers invested in Iowa forward Kris Murray with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. So far, Portland's investment has not paid off, and it's hard to imagine that changing anytime soon.
Murray is only entering his third season, but given his apparent lack of fit, the Blazers should already be exploring trade options to see if there's any market out there at all.
Murray is a versatile wing defender who can guard multiple positions with his 6-foot-8 frame. From that standpoint, he aligns with what Portland wants to accomplish defensively as a team that constantly picks up teams full court, forcing turnovers or getting them late into the shot clock with their sets.
However, the concern lies primarily on the offensive end. Murray exacerbates Portland's shooting weakness, turning it into a fatal flaw.
Kris Murray's shooting struggles don't fit the Blazers' roster
This season, Murray is averaging 5.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.9 steals on 46/24/67 shooting splits. He's already plateaued as a shooter, showing no signs of improvement from his rookie campaign. That's a red flag, as Murray is now shooting just 25% from beyond the arc in his career.
It's also the main reason why he doesn't fit with Portland's roster. The Blazers finished in the bottom five in three-point efficiency the past two seasons, and currently rank 23rd at 33.6% to start the season. Their bench presents a significant liability in this aspect; other than Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jerami Grant and stretch five Duop Reath, floor spacing is virtually nonexistent.
Blake Wesley was proving to be a perfect defensive fit prior to his untimely foot fracture. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter has also leaned on two-way player Sidy Cissoko off the bench -- two more non-shooters. The Blazers can't afford to play Murray and another non-shooter at the same time, as their offense stalls noticeably. That limits Spliter's options, which is problematic considering he already has relatively few to choose from.
The Blazers haven't really drafted a bust recently, but Murray is trending in that direction. He was viewed as an NBA-ready player after spending three seasons at Iowa, but that actually turned out to be a negative for Portland, as it meant he was a finished product that didn't have room to grow.
Given Portland's roster needs and the lack of shooting on their bench unit, the Blazers would be wise to move on from him sooner rather than later.