The Portland Trail Blazers have four players set to hit free agency: Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, Robert Williams III, and Caleb Love. They have Bird rights on Thybulle and Williams, while Love is a restricted free agent. While you can make a compelling case for or against keeping any of the four, the odd man out could very well be Wesley.
The defensive-minded guard was valuable to start the season with Portland's depleted backcourt, but unfortunately struggled to crack Tiago Splitter's rotation consistently after returning from a foot fracture. The lack of floor spacing is a major concern for a Blazers team that has struggled in that department throughout their rebuild and made it a point of emphasis to address this offseason.
Wesley did help Portland establish that defensive identity, as his elite speed and agility allowed him to pick up defenders the length of the court. But Portland may be better off finding more of a two-way guard in free agency, and an under-the-radar solution could be De'Anthony Melton.
Blazers should replace Blakey Wesley with De'Anthony Melton
The veteran guard has a $3.5 million player option that he should decline after a productive season with the Golden State Warriors. He's a solid defender who would fill the Wesley void on that end while providing Portland with more shooting, as a career 35.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc. Beyond the floor spacing ability, he's also more capable of initiating the offense than Wesley, which would be an added bonus for a Blazers team that struggled mightily with their playmaking and turnovers this season.
Melton's injury history is a concern, as he's totaled 55 games played over the past two years. But this season in Golden State proved he's past the ACL tear that sidelined him for almost the entire 2024-25 season, meaning the main concern now is his frequent back injuries. Still, Portland can afford to take on that risk as it is finally set to have a crowded backcourt next season, largely thanks to Damian Lillard's return.
With that return comes an increased sense of urgency for Portland to build off its first playoff appearance in five years. New owner Tom Dundon has high expectations for this team to win sooner rather than later, and bringing in a veteran like Melton to replace a young, offensively limited guard in Wesley could be a strategic move to align with that new timeline.
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