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2021 NBA Free Agency

Portland Trail Blazers

Blazers re-sign Norman Powell to 5-year $90 million deal

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

In what was an expected move the Blazers have re-signed Norman Powell to a five-year, $90 million dollar deal on Monday evening. All indications were that the Blazers were going to ink Powell to a deal at the start of free agency and it looks like Neil Olshey did not mess this one up.

I think there was some fear that he’d let Powell walk and play Greg Brown at the three spot in the coming season.

Powell came to the Blazers last season in a trade that sent fan favorite, Gary Trent Jr. to Toronto/Tampa. Norm played in 27 games with the Blazers and averaged 17 points a game and proceeded to start in all six of Portland’s playoff games as well.

With the signing of Powell, four of the five Blazer starting spots are locked up. Will be interesting to see what the Blazers do at the power forward spot in the coming days with the $8 they have left to spend this summer.

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Portland Trail Blazers

Cody Zeller signs with Blazers on minimum one year deal

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Blazers were not done in free agency yet, but they are getting really close to spending all that cash money that they have. It’s being reported that the Blazers have signed oft-injured big man, Cody Zeller to the veteran’s minimum. He might be injured a lot, but he plays more than Zach Collins and is coming in a hell of a lot cheaper.

Zeller has averaged about 9 points and six boards for his career. Is known for his hard, but not stellar play. Hopefully, this does not mean that Enes Kanter will not be returning. Kanter better be returning.

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Portland Trail Blazers

Blazers add Ben McLemore

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Blazers have begun to piece together their bench, announcing their first signing of the year in guard/wing player Ben McLemore. This isn’t the big free agent signing the Blazers need to compete for a title, but with the crap cap management that Neil Olshey has done over recent years, this is about the best they can do.

McLemore should be slated to take the minutes that Carmelo Anthony had been occupying the last few years. Anthony is expected to sign with the Lakers and attempt to win a championship again with Russell Westbrook. We know how that went the last time.

Pauses for laughter.

McLemore has been a bit of a disappointment since coming into the league in 2013. It might not be totally his fault, he did spend his first few years in the league playing for the Sacramento Kings and that place has ruined a lot of careers over the last twenty years.

McLemore has averaged 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1 assist, and just over half a steal a game for his career.

Hoping this signing does not impede the development of guys like Nassir Little and potentially Greg Brown.

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Portland Trail Blazers

Zach Collins is finally done in Portland

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

Over the weekend the Blazers announced that they were not going to be tendering Zach Collins an offer, thus declining the first right to re-sign him, and making him an unrestricted free agent. Today, Collins signed a 3-year $22 million dollar deal with the San Antonio Spurs.

Collins spent more time injured at home, on the bench, or being under anesthesia being operated on than he spent on the floor with the Blazers. When he did play for the Blazers he did show some flashes of promise that made the Blazers trade up to get the 10th overall pick out of Gonzaga.

The Blazers having enough salary cap issues were smart in not re-signing Collins as he becomes the Spurs inpatient now.

If there is one person on this planet more injury-prone than Carson Wentz, it might be Zach Collins, but at least somehow the Eagles were able to get something for Wentz.

Well, the Blazers do get something in return with Collins moving on to the Spurs: peace of mind and an extra empty hospital bed.

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