Does Portland's uneven frontcourt justify another trade?
The Portland Trail Blazers have a completely new frontcourt, loaded with young, talented pieces that are still coming into their own. But do these players fit with one another?
Or should Portland GM Neil Olshey make a trade before the deadline to loosen things up and find at least one big man with a post game? Here's a closer look, courtesy of SB Nation's Blazer's Edge:
Meyers Leonard's outside shot means he's a decent offensive fit with just about any other big who can rebound and protect the rim. But unless Noah Vonleh is ready to step up and play major minutes, things will get ugly when Leonard hits the bench.
It seems a trade is in order, but Portland should be in no rush to mold a finished roster right now. They're in asset-collection mode, and right now they have a bunch of big guys who definitely qualify as valuable assets. The smart play is to wait things out.
Now, consider Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee: both are high energy players who have been described as throwbacks to a ‘90s style of play. They both score nearly all their points at the rim on dunks or layups. Plumlee does have a more polished post game and can occasionally create his own basket, whereas Davis works primarily as a garbage man by cleaning up loose ball opportunities or converting on broken plays to score his points. Despite these strengths, Davis and Plumlee do not fit well with a contemporary NBA offense because they generally need to be positioned near the rim to be effective, but do not command a double team. That creates a spacing nightmare.
