Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19, the Portland Trail Blazers had a record of 29-37 and were in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. After making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2019, this season saw the Blazers play too inconsistent for the team to ever get on a serious run.
Despite the prolific scoring skills of Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Carmelo Anthony, the absence of Jusuf Nurkic turned out to be too big of a loss for the Blazers to overcome.
Nurkic had a great regular season for the team in 2018-19 before he got hurt. The 7-footer averaged 15.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks. The Blazers were an impressive 45-27 when Nurkic was in the lineup last season.
Jusuf was scheduled to make his much-anticipated 2019-20 regular-season debut on March 15 at home against the Houston Rockets. However, COVID-19 forced the NBA to suspend the season a few days before.
If the 2019-20 season resumes in the summer, the Blazers will have Nurkic in the lineup, which would certainly make the team a very dangerous club. Also, if the NBA decides to do a play-in tournament, Portland could feast in that with a starting lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Anthony, Trevor Ariza, and Nurkic.
However, as each day passes, it almost feels like the 2019-20 season is going to get canceled altogether. Should that be the case, here are three moves Blazers executive and general manager Neil Olshey should make.
3. Let Hassan Whiteside walk in free agency
With Nurkic healthy now, there's no reason for the Blazers to re-sign Whiteside whenever the 2020 free agency period begins.
Back-up center Zach Collins will be recovered from his shoulder injury whenever basketball is played again, too. Whiteside probably won't be looking to come off the bench, so it makes all the sense in the world for the Blazers to say thanks, and then goodbye.
Whiteside was making $27,093,018 this season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The former Miami Heat standout averaged 16.3 points and 14.2 rebounds in 61 games for the Blazers before the season was suspended.
If the Blazers didn't have Nurkic on the roster, Whiteside would be a good long-term fit in Portland. However, Jusuf is the better player on both ends of the court and has a rapport with the coaching staff and players.
2. Re-sign Carmelo Anthony
Anthony appeared in 50 games for the Blazers after his one year NBA hiatus. The future Hall of Famer averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.3 percent from the free-throw line.
The Blazers went 22-28 with Anthony in the lineup. Lillard and McCollum loved playing with Melo and Nurkic was looking forward to suiting up with the 10-time All-Star. Portland should look to re-sign Anthony on a deal that pays him around $4 or 5 million annually.
Whenever COVID-19 ends and players can start working out again, Anthony will surely hit the courts with Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic and develop that on-court chemistry it takes to win an NBA title.
The Blazers owe it to themselves to at least see what a lineup of Lillard, McCollum, Anthony, Ariza, and Nurkic can do in a large sample size.
1. Pick up Trevor Ariza's option
The Blazers acquired the veteran forward from the Sacramento Kings in the Kent Bazemore trade. He's the perfect 3&D swingman Portland needs to space the floor on offense with his shooting and pester perimeter scorers on defense.
Ariza averaged 11.0 points while shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc in 21 games with the Blazers. His 2020-21 option is worth $12.8 million, with $1.8 million guaranteed.
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