Portland Trail Blazers: 2017-18 NBA season preview
2017-18 Roster
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF/PF
Isaiah Briscoe, SG
Zach Collins, C/PF
Pat Connaughton, SG/SF
Ed Davis, PF/C
Archie Goodwin, SG/PG
Maurice Harkless, SF/PF
Jake Layman, SF/PF
Meyers Leonard, PF/C
Damian Lillard, PG
C.J. McCollum, SG/PG
Anthony Morrow, SG
Shabazz Napier, PG
Jusuf Nurkic, C
Caleb Swanigan, PF
Evan Turner, SG/SF
Noah Vonleh, PF/C
C.J. Wilcox, SG
Offseason Additions
Isaiah Briscoe (free agent, undrafted), Zach Collins (No. 10 overall pick, Gonzaga), Archie Goodwin (free agent, Brooklyn Nets), Anthony Morrow (free agent, Chicago Bulls), Caleb Swanigan (No. 26 overall pick, Purdue), C.J. Wilcox (two-way contract)
Offseason Subtractions
Allen Crabbe (traded to Brooklyn Nets), Tim Quarterman (traded to Houston Rockets)
Quick Thoughts
Here’s the new roster, much like the old roster. A summer ago, general manager Neil Olshey threw big money at several role players. He picked up free agents Evan Turner and Festus Ezeli and re-signed Crabbe, Leonard and Harkless. The moves were roundly criticized, considering they made Portland a tax-paying team, and the players likely wouldn’t deliver value on the dollar.
This offseason, the Blazers chose a more conservative approach, picking up a couple of draft picks and shedding one of those big contracts. That means 12 players are returning to the fold.
However, things were on the verge of being more active this summer. Carmelo Anthony desired a trade out of New York and had the Blazers in mind as a possible destination. C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard openly invited Anthony to join them in Portland. Unfortunately, a deal never materialized, and Anthony was dealt to the Thunder.
There are 14 guaranteed contracts on the roster, with room for one more. Morrow, Goodwin and Briscoe are all fighting for that final spot. This indicates that the Blazers are searching for a backup shooting guard to replace Crabbe.
Morrow is a sharpshooter, Goodwin likes to attack the basket and Briscoe is an undrafted rookie. We’ll see what type of player the Blazers are looking for once they make their choice at the end of the preseason.