3 Veteran free agents that would help Blazers return to playoff contention

Portland needs to target these veterans in free agency to help steer them in the right direction.

Houston Rockets v Portland Trail Blazers
Houston Rockets v Portland Trail Blazers | Alika Jenner/GettyImages
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2. Robert Covington

A familiar name the Trail Blazers may want to reconsider is Robert Covington, who previously played two seasons in Portland. Since the Blazers traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022, the production of the former Tennessee State Tiger took a dramatic dip. This season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Covington averaged 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds, only playing 16.1 minutes per game.

Despite his lack of productivity lately, Covington is a career 36.2 percent three-point shooter and would instantly boost the Blazers' offense with his floor spacing alone. With good positional size at 6-foot-7, Covington can also help on defense by guarding the opposing team's best player. If the Blazers are looking to make an aggressive playoff push next season, Covington is someone they should target with his two-way skillset.

Between two-time All-Defensive player Matisse Thybulle, promising rookie Toumani Camara, and now Robert Covington, the Blazers would have great length and defensive versatility at their wing positions. Covington would give head coach Chauncey Billups more lineup flexibility since he is a better shooter than Thybulle and Camara. Given his age and low statistical output over the past few seasons, Covington is also a realistic target for the Blazers from a financial standpoint.

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