Portland Trail Blazers: Analyzing early offseason moves (and a conspiracy theory to watch for)
Signing Gary Payton II
It was a pleasant surprise when the Portland Trail Blazers signed Gary Payton II. More than anything, Portland needed to improve perimeter defense and do it by using up the Mid-Level-Exception. But the second-generation NBAer takes his defensive responsibilities as seriously as his NBA father did.
Some of the players Portland should have gone after signed with other teams rather quickly. The ones not quickly signed seemed to have a certain level of health risk attached to them, such as T.J. Warren and Otto Porter Jr. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one of those players missed most of the next season with injury problems.
Payton had a break-out, impact season. His defense absolutely played a key role in the Golden State Warriors winning the 2022 championship.
Overpaying slightly to guarantee that kind of defensive player on the roster is a no-brainer. Adding Payton is like when the team overpaid for a young Wesley Matthews, who had only one season under his belt. The Matthews signing had a huge impact on improving the Blazers’ defense for the following seasons. Players like him are essential for any team hoping to have success.
Re-signing Drew Eubanks
Drew Eubanks seems like a safe re-signing for a player that is more of a third-string center. After being thrown into Portland’s dumpster fire of a tanking team, fans appreciated his work ethic. In spot minutes, Eubanks won’t hurt the team with poor decision-making or lack of effort.
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