Blazers’ interest in Kevin Porter Jr. comes with a question of fit

The Trail Blazers could use another healthy guard. Whether they need another guard who does his best work with the ball is a different question.

That’s the decision with Kevin Porter Jr., who has drawn interest from Portland and several other teams since being waived by the Bucks.

With Ja Morant, Vit Krejci and Shaedon Sharpe sidelined, the immediate appeal is easy to understand. Portland has an open roster spot, and Porter could provide another option to create shots and handle the offense.

But the Blazers still have Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. Deni Avdija also handles plenty of the playmaking. Adding someone capable of running an offense isn’t necessarily the same as finding someone who fits this particular offense.

As Jeremy Brener of Blazers On SI examines, the case for Porter is stronger when looking at Portland’s available bodies than its eventual rotation. Brener views the Heat or Kings as more logical landing spots.

That’s a reasonable distinction. The Blazers need to get through their current injuries, but they also have to consider what Porter’s role would become when Morant returns.

There could be useful minutes available now. Finding those minutes later might require taking opportunities from players already in place.

Porter’s ability to create offense gives Portland a reason to consider him. The question is whether that addresses its biggest need, or simply adds another player whose strengths overlap with the guards it already has.

(Photo credit: Imagn)