3 Key areas the Portland Trail Blazers must improve entering 2024 preseason

3. Versatility

Versatility is somewhat tied into the Trail Blazers' lack of shooting and playmaking concerns. Too many of their players have redundant skill sets. As mentioned, the majority of their best players' offensive strength is scoring, primarily in one-on-one matchups. Their lack of ball movement also leads to challenging, contested shots, which causes inefficient offensive ratings.

Avdija is an ideal addition to address this concern as a 6-foot-9 wing who has a well-rounded game. He's an efficient scorer, savvy ballhandler, unselfish passer, and excellent positional rebounder. He also utilizes his size well on the defensive end to guard multiple positions.

Although not to the same level as Avdija, Clingan is another player who adds versatility. He's limited offensively and can't guard multiple positions, but Clingan has already shown that he's a decisive passer in the Summer League. He makes proper reads out of the pick and roll, which is essential in the modern NBA. Clingan is another player who helps in multiple aspects with his passing, rebounding, and elite rim protection.

Cronin and the Blazers have done a great job prioritizing two-way players who are more versatile and can contribute to winning in multiple aspects outside of scoring. But it's still an area of need that they must continue addressing as they continue their rebuild.