Portland Trail Blazers: 2017-18 player grades for Evan Turner

Final grade

Evan Turner is a player that likes to move forward with a positive attitude and confidence in himself. However, there were only so many positives to come by in 2017-18. He is a point forward on a team that already has two dynamic playmakers, and his struggles from beyond the arc limit his utility as an off-ball player.

Turner has a strong NBA body and utilizes it well in the post-up game, but he lacks explosiveness and struggles to score in transition. Lastly, his defensive ability took a step back in 2017-18 at a time when the rest of his team improved.

Considering his production in relation to the size of his contract, there is a good chance he would have been dealt away this summer if most teams weren’t hard-up for cap space. A team that wasn’t looking to compete in 2018-19 could have brought him in to buy him out or wait out the rest of his deal.

Instead, the Trail Blazers chose to part with Napier and work to re-incorporate Turner as a third playmaking option. With the addition of shooters Seth Curry, Nik Stauskas and Gary Trent Jr., that is a plan that might work with the right lineups.

Evan Turner is set to enter his third season as a Portland Trail Blazer. Certainly, he will be looking put his best foot forward and fit into whatever role is needed of him. All Blazer fans can do is hope that he can turn things around in 2018-19.

Grade: C-