National Basketball Association

Trail Blazers: Brad Stevens Worried About Filling Evan Turner Void

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Will Boston have a tough time filling the role that Evan Turner played for them in his two year tenure? Brad Stevens expressed some anxiety on the subject recently.

Most of the news surrounding Evan Turner this summer has been about his massive contract, his fit with the Trail Blazers, and his questionable shooting numbers. Last week provided another storyline, as the Celtics expressed some uncertainty about filling the void that Turner’s departure has opened up. Brad Stevens shared this with ESPN when he was asked about their former sixth man:

“He made huge plays at the end of games. He made big, big shots. His shooting percentages were not always great but, when the game was on the line and the clock was winding down, you felt like it had a good chance of going in. He made free throws late in games and he guarded two or three positions. Time will tell; we’ll find out. We’ve got a lot of guys that will get an opportunity to step up and fill his void, but it is a void.”

The expectations that Turner must meet to be viewed as a success in Portland are little higher, but Stevens’ comments paint a bright picture for his future. Finding a player that is flexible on defense will help out Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in a big way.

Stevens also commented on Turner’s clutch factor in his comments. It is unlikely that he will be called upon in big moments, but it is nice to know that Terry Stotts has other options outside of Lillard.

It will now be up to Turner to tighten up his shooting percentages when he arrives in Portland. If he can play within himself and hit open shots – he will quickly erase the stigma surrounding his large contract. As for the Celtics, they will likely lean on the enigmatic Gerald Green to replace Turner.