Utah Jazz: Could standing pat be the best path forward?

Portland Trail Blazers

Probably the next most discussed offseason situation of the division, and understandably so as it is probably the next most toxic. The Trail Blazers fell victim to the cap spike of 2016, handing out questionable deals to Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner, and matching the Brooklyn Nets’ outlandish offer sheet to Allen Crabbe. Now the cap has leveled off, leaving the Blazers tight on money.

You can understand Portland’s enthusiasm though. A small or mid-market team that historically struggles to land free agents is suddenly gifted max level cap room and goes nuts. The Orlando Magic did the same, and several more would have if anyone would have taken their money.

Unfortunately, Portland spent on the wrong guys and that is going to leave them precious little wiggle room to improve the roster. Portland is running into a similar problem as the Toronto Raptors, where a guard-focused roster that can’t defend at an elite level struggles to advance in the playoffs.

Only Portland is trying this in the Western Conference, and their sweep defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans shows they might be farther away than previously thought. The Trail Blazers desperately need to move money off their books; but if they need to surrender future assets to do that makes them less able to capitalize on their new-found breathing room.