5 Role players the Blazers should target on the trade market

4. Jalen Smith

Another undervalued player on a team with a crowded frontcourt is Indiana Pacers’ Jalen Smith. Their frontcourt may potentially shrink this offseason—Pascal Siakam is an unrestricted free agent, Obi Toppin is a restricted free agent, and Smith has a player option. However, the Pacers have good reason to bring back as much of their roster as possible after having a successful season capped off by an Eastern Conference Finals run.

Smith is a less athletic version of John Collins but is younger and, most importantly for the Blazers, cheaper. Portland is already in a financial crunch, so bringing on someone like Smith could be more reasonable.

Smith drastically improved as a shooter since entering the league, going from 23.5 percent from three as a rookie to 42.4 percent this season. He’s also someone that the Pacers could potentially be open to moving, especially if they wind up keeping Siakam and Toppin around.

While Smith wouldn’t be a starter for Portland, he would still fill a valuable role that they are currently missing as a stretch big who provides rebounding and rim protection. He’d also give Chauncey Billups more lineup flexibility because he can play both power forward and center, helping them match up with the wide range of lineups in the Western Conference.