Northwest, OKC Thunder NBA FA Primer: Masters of the West

Portland Trail Blazers:

Situation Entering Offseason:

If I underestimated any team heading into the postseason it was the Blazers and honestly much of that had to do with Enes Kanter who I adore but never expected to outplay Steven Adams, especially nursing obvious injuries.

Without Jusuf Nurkic it just didn’t seem fathomable the Blazers could hang with the big boys – but boy oh boy did they prove me wrong. Eventually, they succumbed to the Warriors but pushed them in spite of Lillard nursing a rib injury  – and trust me rib injuries are ridiculously painful. They make it difficult to breathe, laugh and sneeze. My hat is off to Dame for balling with that injury.

In the end, the Blazers overcame the previous season sweep at the hands of the Pelicans, but return to this offseason with palpable needs to fill their forward positions particularly at the four.

Salary:

Cap Space: $ (41,364,631.00)
Floor Space: $ 31,478,499.00
Max Space: $ (19,544,468.00)
Projected Space: $ (41,364,631.00)

*as per Keith Smith of Real GM

Key free agents to re-sign

Regarding the forward needs, as mentioned above the Blazers have a few free agents who’ll need to either be re-signed or replaced. Jake Layman (who the Blazers love and see great potential in which is likely why they extended a qualifying offer) seems to be their priority.

Rodney Hood who was arguably the reason why the Blazers won that marathon four period overtime game is also a free agent. And with a real need for depth at the four Al-Farouq Aminu (a personal favorite) is also on the free agent market. Even an unproven commodity in Skal Labissiere is slated for free agency a summer from now.

Factor in the Blazers are probably desirous of running back Seth Curry, but it sure doesn’t seem like they can keep them all.

2019 Roster Depth:

• Zach Collins
• Maurice Harkless
• Skal Labissiere
• Damian Lillard
• CJ McCollum
• Meyers Leonard
• Jusuf Nurkić
• Anfernee Simons
• Gary Trent Jr.

Draft Picks:

• Nassir Little

Trade:

• Evan Turner (sent to Atlanta in exchange for Kent Bazemore)

2019 free agents

Al-Farouq Aminu
Seth Curry
Rodney Hood
Jake Layman (Restricted – team extended qualifying offer)
Enes Kanter

2020 free agents

Meyers Leonard
Maurice Harkless
Skal Labissiere (Restricted)