Between their Jrue Holiday trade, Damian Lillard's return, and the selection of Yang Hansen, the Portland Trail Blazers made headlines this offseason. However, one addition that has flown under the radar is Blake Wesley.
Portland had multiple winners in its 129-123 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, including Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara. However, those leaps have been expected due to their increased roles and upward career trajectory. The most pleasantly surprising performance came from Wesley, who finished with nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in just 20 minutes.
The shooting could have been more efficient, as Wesley went 3-of-8 from the field and missed both of his three-point attempts. Still, there's a reason he was a +12 on the night, as Wesley's defensive impact was apparent from the moment he checked in.
Blake Wesley is perfect for Portland's defensive identity
In some ways, the Blazers added a mini version of Camara this summer. Wesley looked like the fastest player out there and was using that to his advantage as a defensive pest, picking up Golden State's guards the length of the court.
Offensively, Wesley isn't a perfect fit in the backcourt given the Blazers' roster construction. He's not a traditional point guard in terms of being someone who can be relied on to consistently set the table or initiate the offense. That could be problematic for Portland until Scoot Henderson returns from his hamstring injury. We saw their lack of playmaking become an issue in the second half against the Warriors. Jrue Holiday sat out after recording seven assists in the first half, which played a key role in the Blazers squandering a 16-point halftime lead.
That said, Wesley is precisely what Chauncey Billups and the Blazers want to achieve on the defensive end.
Portland made it clear this summer that defense is this team's calling card. While many will point to the Anfernee Simons-Holiday swap and buyout of Deandre Ayton/increased role for Donovan Clingan as the key moves they made to achieve this defensive vision, signing Wesley is a move that should not be overlooked.
In fact, John Hollinger of The Athletic recently mentioned that Wesley could be an underrated player in Portland's backcourt.
"Wesley can defend, and that is part of Portland's identity as it tries to make the postseason (we think?) in a crowded Western Conference. The Blazers are also thin in the backcourt, with Scoot Henderson injured and also not exactly locked in as a long-term starter, and Damian Lillard out for the season. That could provide a window for Wesley to establish a long-term role after the Washington Wizards unceremoniously bought him out."
In 2022, the San Antonio Spurs (a franchise that knows how to identify talent) took Wesley with the No. 25 overall selection. Given the draft pedigree and the fact that Wesley is still just 22 years old, he's the exact type of player the Blazers should be taking a low-risk flyer on to have on the end of their bench.
With Henderson and Lillard out for varying times due to injury, Wesley will have a prime opportunity to prove he belongs as part of the Blazers' young core. If this first preseason game was any indication, he's already seizing that opportunity.