The Portland Trail Blazers have kept a relatively quiet offseason busy enough, and the moves they’ve made have already started to reshape the roster for next season.
If you line up the four transactions they’ve completed so far, one stands out above the rest: the surprise trade for Ja Morant. Portland landed Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies by sending Jerami Grant and Kris Murray the other way, and the Blazers also picked up $1 million to complete the deal. Morant still has two years left on his contract, and while his value has taken a hit because of injuries, he remains a former All-Star with a real chance to reset his career in Portland.
The fit isn’t simple, though. Damian Lillard is already in the backcourt, and Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holliday are also on the roster. Even with that logjam, the Blazers brought in a high-level talent at what looks like a very reasonable price, which is why this move gets the top spot.
Portland also made sure to keep Robert Williams III in the fold, signing him to a three-year, $44 million deal. Williams had a tough time staying on the floor in his first two seasons with the team, but he played 59 games last season and averaged 6.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. He gives the Blazers a needed backup option behind Donovan Clingan and helps keep the paint protected with the second unit.
Another smart, low-risk addition came in early July when Portland claimed Micah Potter off waivers. Potter brings five years of NBA experience from the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz, and he still has a year left on his deal.
He’s set to make under $3 million this season, and the Blazers see him as someone who can play either power forward or center. It may not be a move that changes much right away, but it has the kind of upside that can pay off if he sticks.
At the start of free agency, Portland also signed Branden Carlson after his two years with the Oklahoma City Thunder. That move raised a few eyebrows because the Blazers already had Clingan, Williams and Yang Hansen, but the team moved early because it liked the value. There’s not much risk attached, but it’s also difficult to see this one turning into a major win down the line.
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