Portland Trail Blazers: Cheering for Cap Space
Destination Location
There is also this tiny detail that the city of Portland is not a destination location for top-of-the-line NBA players. Taking a page out of author Dwight Jaynes’ book, “The relatively small size of the city, the geographic location in a corner of the country that makes a lot of road trips longer than average, the gloomy weather.”
When’s the last time the Portland Trail Blazers, during the Lillard era, was able to bring in a max-level player? The fact remains that during Lillard’s time in Rip City, he has never played alongside another All-Star.
So, again I ask where this max-level player is coming from to team up with Lillard? Free agency looks bleak. And what may end up happening is the Portland Trail Blazers pulling a New York Knicks-style move, where they sign their own Julius Randle. NYK created a bunch of cap space to sign a few max-level players for those unaware. They swung and missed, and their consolation prize was signing Randle as mentioned above to a three-year, $62M deal.
Now don’t get it twisted. If the Portland Trail Blazers acquired Randle to pair up with Lillard, that would be a good move. Except for the fact it would just be like Lillard and McCollum but with a frontcourt and backcourt pair. Not to mention who is Portland giving up to acquire Randle? I’m digressing here. So, since free agency doesn’t look like the best option, only two options are left; the draft and trade.
Julius Randle last 2 years
Last season:
— 24/10/6
— 46 FG%
— 41 3P%
— All-NBALast playoffs:
— 18/12/4
— 30 FG%
— 33 3P%
— First round exitThis season:
— 19/10/5
— 41 FG%
— 30 3P%Tonight:
— Unfollowed Knicks on Instagram pic.twitter.com/GSElSte2fH— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 4, 2022