NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the Portland Trail Blazers
By Connor Learn
1. Evan Turner to the New York Knicks for Courtney Lee
Evan Turner was coming off of a redemptive season with the Celtics when Portland signed him to a four-year, $70 million dollar deal. It seemed like a solid fit for a player with a shaky outside jumper; Portland has shooting in spades. Turner was supposed to be their best perimeter defender, a solid secondary ball-handler, and a steadying veteran presence that would help get them to the next level.
The start of Turner’s tenure in Portland was tough this past season. Moe Harkless beat him out for the starting small forward role in camp. Turner then played abysmally in his sixth man role and never materialized as a consistent secondary ball-handler. He played better in the second half of the season, which could bode well moving forward though. Despite that, the Trail Blazers shouldn’t hesitate to get out from under his contract if the opportunity is given.
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While Knicks fans would rather Joakim Noah be traded for Turner, Lee being swapped makes sense too. Turner’s ball handling would be of importance with the Knicks, who just drafted a rookie point guard. This contrasts with the “3-and-D” Lee, who is a fine player. The Knicks would get the better player in this deal while the Trail Blazers save money while acquiring a serviceable pro. A logical move for both sides.