5 roster moves the Portland Trail Blazers need to make this offseason

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 04: Jusuf Nurkic #27 and Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers embrace in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors during the preseason game at Moda Center on October 04, 2021 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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Feb 5, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Eric Bledsoe (5) watches from the bench during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Moves the Portland Trail Blazers need to make this offseason: 2. Do not guarantee Eric Bledsoe

When the Trail Blazers traded Covington and Powell to the LA Clippers they received Johnson, Winslow, Bledsoe, and a future second-round pick. The prize of this trade was Johnson, with Bledsoe not playing a game for the Trail Blazers.

The reason for this was the Achilles injury he suffered, but the problem was that his production has been slipping for the past few seasons. The 2021-22 season was the worst that he has had since his third NBA season, which was the last time he averaged less than 10 points per game in a season.

Bledsoe is still a high-quality shot creator for both himself and others. However, if the Trail Blazers are able to re-sign Anfernee Simons, then the point guard rotation is pretty well stocked. Lillard plays big minutes, which does not leave much court time for the likes of Bledsoe.

Then, there is the matter of his age. Bledsoe is 32 and he does not fit the timeline of the Trail Blazers’ rebuild. He is a high-IQ basketball player, but trying to come back from his Achilles injury at that age means that the Trail Blazers will have no idea what he will be able to contribute, which is not what you are after when trying to assess new players in the squad.

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