The Portland Trail Blazers are continuing to make moves to finalize their roster ahead of training camp. After waiving Andrew Nicholson recently, they have decided to pick up their option on Pat Connaughton, which will guarantee his salary for next season. He is going to make $1.4 million, and brings the team’s total to 14 guaranteed contracts, leaving them with just one shy of the maximum number the league allows.

The 24-year-old Notre Dame product was the 41st overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, but his rights were traded to the Blazers as part of the Mason Plumlee deal. He will be entering his third season with the team, but has only appeared in a total of 73 games for them as he has become a fixture on their bench.

With Allen Crabbe not part of the Blazers anymore, Connaughton may get his chance next season to receive more minutes and prove his worth. He has career averages of 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in only 6.3 minutes per game, but could be in line for a bigger role in Terry Stotts’ system.

Should he emerge as the primary backup of C.J. McCollum, it will be a huge boost to his young career and his confidence. He has already shown glimpses of his true potential back in college and in some plays in the NBA, but the potential increase in his playing time would allow him to further showcase his skillset.