The Portland Trail Blazers have held on to their 15th roster spot for a reason, and that’s to fill it with a regular player in the rotation, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic.
Despite the injuries to shooting guard CJ McCollum and center Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers have managed to stay win striking distance in the stacked Western Conference. Quick reported that both players may be days away from returning, too.
Even so, the Blazers appear to be hoping to add some depth to become even more relevant in the West.
While there don’t appear to be any specific targets, Quick noted that Chicago Bulls small forward Otto Porter Jr. is a player who could fit and has been admired by Blazers general manager Neil Olshey for some time. Opposing teams are monitoring Porter and the Bulls, and the possibility of a contract buyout between the two.
Per Quick, the Blazers are focusing on either a guard/forward who can shoot from the outside, or a backup to star point guard Damian Lillard.
One player they don’t have an interest in, Quick noted, is available center DeMarcus Cousins, most recently of the Houston Rockets.
Either way, the Blazers will be a team to watch ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. While they aren’t considering any major moves, they could make a smaller one in their search for another winning piece that fits.
