NBA Free Agency: Grading all 30 teams on signings and trades

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2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Portland Trail Blazers

Key Additions: Cody Zeller (1-yr, minimum); Tony Snell (1-yr, minimum)

Brought Back: Norman Powell (5-yr, $90 million)

Key Departures: Enes Kanter (Boston)

The biggest shoe for the Portland Trail Blazers’ offseason is yet to drop. With Damian Lillard in Tokyo, Japan competing in the Summer Olympics the spotlight has waxed and waned on the Blazers, but they have to make a larger move than simply bringing in a pair of minimum players to convince Lillard he can compete for a title in Portland.

For now, the additions were minor. Tony Snell hasn’t missed a free throw since before Avengers: Endgame came out, and rarely misses 3-pointers either, but his reluctance to shoot doesn’t help his teams as much as it should. Still, he’s a decent wing option for the minimum. Cody Zeller has the potential to be a steal on the minimum; if he can stay healthy he is a low-end starter and will solve the “no defense” bench the Blazers ran out last season.

Finally, the team handed out a pretty penny to bring back Normal Powell on a five-year, $90 million deal ($18 million AAV). That’s an overpay for Powell as currently constructed, as the 6’3″ guard will be hard-pressed to hold up at the 3. However if the “shake things up” move is to trade CJ McCollum, then Powell can slide back into the 2-guard spot and should play better from there.

Grade: B

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