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4 NBA teams that could use free agent Joakim Noah

By Holden Walter-Warner

Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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4. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers appear to have an embarrassment of riches at the center position on paper. Or at least they will when Jusuf Nurkic returns from his injury, assuming he’s close to full strength when that happens.

Until then, Joakim Noah could prove to be a valuable backup for the Trail Blazers.

Hassan Whiteside has been impressive in his first season in Portland, averaging 15.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game so far. Motivation and maturity haven’t been an issue for him yet, but Noah can guarantee that continues.

After Whiteside, there are no true centers suiting up for the Trail Blazers. Zach Collins had the ability to play up to the position, but he’ll be out for about four months after undergoing surgery on his left labrum. Beyond him, the team’s current big men are Skal Labissiere and Anthony Tolliver.

As for Nurkic, his return timeline remains unclear. He suffered the injury in March and was not given a timetable of recovery originally. He is expected to return this year, but that’s far from certain.

Noah would serve as an insurance policy, a hedging of bets in case Nurkic can’t come back, or can’t come back the same as the dominant breakout player he was a year ago.