Fansided

NBA free agency: 5 destinations for David West

By John Buhler

Dec 23, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward David West (30) works for position around Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward David West (30) works for position around Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Feb 7, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) is guarded by Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) is guarded by Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Will any big-time soon-to-be NBA free agents sign with the Portland Trail Blazers this summer? They should, as the Portland starting back court of point guard Damian Lillard and shooting guard C.J. McCollum are the duo that give the Warriors the hardest time to cover defensively.

Nobody outside of Rip City thought that Portland was going to make the 2016 NBA Playoffs after losing four of five starters in the 2015 NBA free agency. Lillard is now a star in this league and McCollum have arrived in the form of 2015-16’s Most Improved Player.

Portland has a great head coach in Terry Stotts, one of the game’s top assistants in Nate Tibbetts, an elite general manager in Neil Olshey, and a terrific owner in Paul Allen. What Portland needs to do to ascend to the next level in 2016-17 is to address issues in their lackluster front court.

The Trail Blazers will probably need to sign a big still in his prime to contend with the Warriors, Spurs, and Thunder in the West, but having a great veteran leader and versatile big man like West coming off the bench could be a huge boost to a Portland team that frankly just needs complimentary pieces to contend entering next season.

Next: 1. Miami Heat.

Home/Atlanta Hawks