The Portland Trail Blazers did not end the season as they would have hoped, and because of that, everyone around the league and team expected some change to the team going into the offseason.
The first domino fell pretty quickly after the Blazers series loss to the Dever Nuggets. The franchise and head coach Terry Stotts agreed to part ways after nine seasons.
Portland is still interviewing candidates, and whoever they land on as the next head coach will likely have a significant impact on the types of players the Blazers add to the roster and who stays on the team.
As of right now, the Blazers have seven players whose contracts continue through next year. Norman Powell and Derrick Jones Jr have player options, and I expect Powell to opt-out for a bigger deal and Jones to opt-in.
Zach Collins will be a restricted free agent, but I would be shocked if he didn’t return on a prove-it deal after missing all of last season. He could also accept a one-year qualifying offer and then hit free agency next season as an unrestricted free agent.
The Blazers have seven players set to hit free agency and, as mentioned, it could be eight or nine depending on what happens with Powell and Jones. Luckily four of the team’s five starters are set to return to Portland’s front office can turn most of their attention to improving the bench depth in free agency.
This should be a very interesting offseason for the Blazers, and we could even see some trades that significantly shake up the roster. But regardless of what happens with all that, Portland has to find quality players to come off their bench and possibly start if needed.
Here are four intriguing free agents they should take a look at this offseason to try and help improve their bench unit.