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The Portland Trail Blazers have big decisions to make ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season following trade rumors surrounding Damian Lillard. Although Lillard has addressed the situation, the superstar could request a trade if the franchise does not make significant changes.
The Portland Trail Blazers finished the 2020-21 season with a 42-30 run and qualified for the 2021 NBA playoffs. However, they suffered a devastating loss at the hands of Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Lillard's comments after their Game 6 loss sparked a lot of rumors, as it was interpreted as him expressing his desire to leave. Every superstar wants to compete for championships and will try to position themselves in a manner where they would stand the best chance. Although he has debunked the rumors, Dame could request a trade if the Portland Trail Blazers do not provide him with the right supporting cast for the 2021-22 season.
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Amid trade rumors surrounding Lillard, is the decision on whether CJ McCollum is the right backcourt pairing for Lillard. There are also concerns about how Chauncey Billups will handle the team in his first year as head coach.
Regardless, there will be a lot of trade rumors surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers during free agency. The front office will get busy as that might be the only way to keep Dame in Portland.
As we approach free agency, here are three bold predictions for the Portland Trail Blazers' 2021 NBA offseason.
#1 Robert Covington will not return for the Portland Trail Blazers
Robert Covington is perhaps the best defensive player on the Portland Trail Blazers roster. However, his time with the team might have come to an end as he had his worst season since his rookie year in terms of scoring.
Although Covington is solid on defense, his contributions on offense are not impressive. It is worth noting that he does a good job spacing the floor and knocking down the occasional three-point shot.
With the Portland Trail Blazers working with limited cap space, a $12 million salary is not worth it considering his production. The Blazers will aggressively pursue a more athletic forward that can produce on both ends of the court.
#2 The Portland Trail Blazers will re-sign Norman Powell
Norman Powell was an incredible addition to the Portland Trail Blazers' offense in the second half of the 2020-21 season. Although he did not play in his natural position, he managed to contribute 17 points per game.
Powell will likely decline his player option for the 2021-22 season in search of higher pay. He might request a salary in the range of $15-20 million as opposed to his $11.6 million player option. Luckily for the Portland Trail Blazers, they have his Bird Rights, which means they can meet his demands.
Business-wise, re-signing Powell is the best option. The Portland Trail Blazers traded a cheaper and younger Gary Trent Jr. to bring in Powell, which will make letting him go be an unwise decision. Furthermore, the president of basketball operations in Portland, Neil Olshey, stated that they traded for Powell in hope that he will be part of the team's future.
However, the Portland Trail Blazers need to figure out their roster if they hope to get the best out of Powell. Although he is a decent three-point shooter, he thrives on driving to the basket and creating his shot. Having him stand in a corner might not be as productive.
Powell's versatility and average defensive capability are good enough reasons to re-sign him. He will relieve Lillard of all the load on offense as he can also handle the ball.
#3 Sign an elite forward
With Robert Covington gone, the Portland Trail Blazers will need to sign an elite power forward that can deliver on offense and defense. Covington helped the Trail Blazers' defense, and that's all that could be said about his 2020-21 season.
With the free-agent list stacked with elite talent, there are several options the Portland Trail Blazers have. However, they have to critically consider productivity and if the player will be a great fit.
Salary cap space is also another factor that needs to be considered. The Portland Trail Blazers do not have much wiggle room in terms of spending, which is why a trade involving CJ McCollum might eventually happen.
Whatever the case may be, the Portland Trail Blazers will need a forward that can dominate on both ends of the court. Carmelo Anthony could be retained as he has occasional bursts on offense and is not so much of a burden salary-wise.
