Portland Trail Blazers: 4 Free agents to improve the bench

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 26: T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter during their game at Moda Center on January 26, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Free agents that could fortify Portland Trail Blazers bench: 2: Nemanja Bjelica

Let’s say the Blazers bring back Collins to be their backup center. Then they are going to need someone to backup Robert Covington at the power forward spot. Six-year vet Nemanja Bjelica would be an intriguing option for Portland to bring in as a floor-spacing big.

Bjelica has spent most of his career on losing teams with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings. He spent the end of last season with the Miami Heat and got some minutes for them in the playoffs.

The Blazers should be in win-now mode going into next season, and Bjelica hasn’t been on a franchise for an entire season with those types of goals. I’m sure being in a winning situation would be refreshing for him.

Bjelica is 6’10”, and for his career his averaging 7.9 points,4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from the 3-point line per game. He would be an excellent offensive weapon to come off the bench for Portland.

In today’s NBA, teams need big men that can knock down the 3-point shot at a consistent rate. The Blazers don’t really have a guy like that on the roster. Nurkic is an okay shooter but shouldn’t be looking to take that many threes, and Covington is only 6’7”. It would be entertaining to watch Bjelica in pick-and-pop situations with Lillard, McCollum or Simons.

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