3 money-saving trades for the Portland Trail Blazers
By Ty Delbridge
3. Sacremento Kings
Why the Blazers make this trade:
After six seasons in the league, it’s time for Meyers Leonard and the Blazers franchise to go their separate ways. Last season, Leonard made $9.9 million and only played in 254 minutes while appearing 33 games. He is a talented player, but it’s hard for him to show it when he doesn’t get much playing time on this team.
Portland has brought in Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan the last couple seasons. All three guys will most likely be above Leonard in the rotation next season. Instead of just keeping him the on the end of the bench, Portland could trade him to another team and try to get some value in return.
Kosta Koufos is a 7’0”, 265-pound center that has been in the league for 10 seasons. He is a classic, old school big man that bangs around down low on both ends, sets screens and rebounds well. For his career, Koufos is averaging 5.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 16.7 minutes per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field. He is currently playing on a one-year, $8.7 million contract.
The Blazers would be getting a decent backup center who physically could do similar things to Nurkic when on the floor. Koufos does not need the ball in his hands or needs to be a main guy when on the court. He knows his role and does not try to do too much. Portland could use him for one season and let him walk the next summer when his deal expires.
Why the Kings make this trade:
The Kings are not going to be competing for the playoffs anytime soon. Their top two players are De’Aaron Fox (one season pro) and Marvin Bagley III (rookie). They have the fourth-youngest roster and the most cap space in the league heading into the 2018-19 season.
A guy like Koufos does not make much sense for their team. He is a veteran player with a limited skill-set. Sacramento could move on from him and bring in Leonard instead. Leonard has much more potential and could look to revitalize his career in Sacramento. He is six years pro and still just 26. They also get a protected first round pick for taking on the rest of Leonard’s contract for the next two seasons.
Leonard is 7’1”, 245 pounds, athletic and can space the floor. For his career, he is averaging 5.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 blocks in 15.7 minutes per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from the 3-point line and 82.4 percent from the free throw line.
His skill-set fits more of today’s NBA style of play. The Kings don’t really have a big man that can space the floor and could see consistent minutes on this team. They can take a chance on Leonard and hope they get more out of him than the Blazers did.