Portland Trail Blazers: 4 improvements made this offseason

The Portland Trail Blazers have added four potential rotation players this offseason

Even though the Portland Trail Blazers made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed team last season, they did so as they struggled with injuries and were also plagued by poor defense all season long. The Blazers look to improve from last season as they have attempted to supplement their roster through free agency.

While the Blazers had no trouble scoring as the third-highest offensive rated team in the NBA, they were porous in defense as the 28th ranked defensive team. The team seemed to address their defensive needs and depth issues with their recent additions and hopefully these players can get the Blazers over the hump in a difficult Western Conference.

Robert Covington

Robert Covington was acquired from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Trevor Ariza, the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart, and two first-round picks. Covington is just the type of player the Blazers were lacking; a relentless defender who can guard multiple positions and is capable of holding the opposing team’s best player and can also score points as a legitimate 3-point threat.

When the Blazers entered the NBA bubble in Orlando, their defense was unraveling as opponents scored 123.4 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting from the field and 43.3 percent shooting from 3-point range. Covington should help space the floor for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum as defenders will also have to account for him also.

Having Covington at their disposal will allow head coach Terry Stotts to adjust his lineup accordingly, whether he wants to go big, small, defensive or if he decides to push the pace. Covington’s presence will be much needed whenever the Blazers matchup against elite wings like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, and Kevin Durant.

He will be an important piece going forward and should fit in perfectly as a prototypical 3-and-D player.