2016 NBA Free Agency: 1 move every team needs to make to be contenders

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers looked awfully overwhelmed at the start of the playoffs, going down 0-2 to the Clippers in the opening round. All that changed however with injuries that sidelined Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. They won four straight to take the series 4-2, and even managed to take a game against the Golden State Warriors (granted, without Steph Curry). And Portland played up to the challenge with the Warriors, including two noteworthy performances from Al-Farouq Aminu and Ed Davis, two undervalued free agents in 2015 that the team took a chance on.

For 2016, they could easily make it back to the playoffs with the same group that they won 5 games in the playoffs with last season, they just need to bring them all back. The trouble is that three of the key members to their team are restricted free agents: Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard, and Allen Crabbe. Crabbe and Harkless proved essential in the playoffs, especially Crabbe who can act as a backup to Lillard and McCollum, providing three-point shooting for the bench. With all three contract holds the Blazers still have 3 million in cap space, but it will still be difficult to bring back all three. I’d expect Leonard, who was injured for the second half of the season to possibly be the odd man out, but if he heads elsewhere that does buy Portland more room to get another buy-low veteran like Davis and Aminu last year.

Anyway this free agency period rolls out for Portland, one thing is for certain, between Lillard, McCollum, and Aminu this team will already be competitive in 2016.

Next: Sacramento Kings