Potential Blazer Mid-Level and Bi-Annual Targets

Free agency isn’t front of mind but there’re a handful of interesting names out there.

The Portland Trail Blazers walk into free agency three days after the second and final day of the NBA Draft. With up to 14 contracted players and four picks in hand, the Blazers are dealing with a roster crunch and a payroll $4 million shy of the luxury tax.

While the Blazers don’t need to whittle down their roster to 15 this minute — they can hold up to 21 during the offseason — clearing salary gives them more free agency options in July.

They do this via lop-sided trades and not picking up Dalano Banton’s team option, though the latter wouldn’t be advisable given the Canadian’s late season production.

If Joe Cronin can negotiate trades that reduce payroll and players, he may have access to the $12.9 million Mid-Level Exception (MLE) and the $4.7 million Bi-Annual Exception (BAE).

Teams don’t have to use the full amount of the respective exceptions and can split them up between multiple players. Front offices are also within their rights to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets in the hope the incumbent franchise opts not to match.

But let’s also keep things in perspective. The rebuilding Blazers are in no place to sign high-priced, big-name players. One, they aren’t good, two, they’re over the salary cap, three, 2025 draft position should be a priority and, four, blocking the development of young players is counterintuitive.

However, there will be free agents in line for modest salaries who are young, would plug positional holes and not hinder the Blazers’ already youthful group.

Below are four players, two who could be in line to receive an annual salary of between $4.7 million and $12.9 million in line with the Mid-Level Exception. The other two might be willing to agree to an amount below the $4.7 million Bi-Annual Exception but above a veteran minimum deal.

I’ve intentionally excluded players at center and point guard given the Blazers’ existing depth at those two positions. Cronin could sign players at said positions but he’s more likely to do so using minimums in order to reinforce the end of the bench, if necessary.

Mid-Level Exception

Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 23
Position: Wing/Forward
Availability: Restricted Free Agent, $11.8 million Qualifying Offer
2023-24: 69 games, 27.3 minutes, 9.4 points, 39.1 3pt%, 3.0 boards, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals

Taken with the fifth pick in 2020, Okoro initially found minutes with the then rebuilding Cavaliers as a high-level defender. Over the past two seasons, the former Auburn product has improved his shooting to the point where he’s not a liability at that end of the floor.

Okoro may be shorter than most small forwards at 6’6, but with natural defensive instincts and a 6’9 wingspan he is one of the better young perimeter defenders in the NBA.

If he’s able to maintain last year’s three-point percentage, Okoro is a nice 3 and D option, particularly if you’re not holding onto Matisse Thybulle long term.

Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor joined the HoopsHype podcast this week, discussing Okoro’s free agency.

Fedor goes on to suggest that Okoro is unlikely to receive more than the MLE from another team. He noted that if the restricted free agent did sign an offer sheet with another franchise at around the MLE, Cleveland would likely match.

But that’s not a certainty. The Cavaliers are in flux right now as they search for outgoing coach JB Bickerstaff’s replacement while also trying to woo Donovan Mitchell to sign an extension.

If the Blazers are interested, it could be worth trying to lure the wing with an MLE-sized offer sheet and see what Koby Altman and the Cavaliers decide to do.

If you turn your head and squint, you might be able to see Okoro signing said offer sheet, however it’s more likely he stays in Ohio.

De’Anthony Melton, Philadelphia 76ers
Age: 26
Position: Wing
Availability: Unrestricted Free Agent
2023-24: 38 games, 26.9 minutes, 11.1 points, 36.0 3pt%, 3.7 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals

If 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey wasn’t trying to clear cap space this summer, I’d bet good money Melton would have been extended by now. However, on the off chance the defensive-minded wing doesn’t return to the Pennsylvanian franchise, the Blazers could extend a Mid-Level-type deal to the unrestricted free agent.

Last season, Melton ranked fourth in steals among wings, pinching the ball on 2.5 percent of opposition plays. While standing 6’2, Melton has an impressive 6’8 wingspan and solid frame helping him defend positions one-through-three.

He pretty much sits middle of the range in metrics among wings when it comes to three point shooting (61st), assist rate (31st) and block rate (47th). He’s in the lower range in effective field goal percentage (83rd), corner threes (100th), midrange (89th) and points per shot attempt (85th).

Any team seeking the former 46th pick’s services is doing so for his perimeter defensive prowess, particularly at the point of attack.

While Melton might be an easier get than Okoro given his free agent status, I’m not sure he’d be eager to leave the contending 76ers, especially if they snagged a Paul George-type player first.

Bi-Annual Exception

Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks
Age: 25
Position: Forward
Availability: Restricted Free Agent, $8.5 million Qualifying Offer
2023-24: 63 games, 32.7 minutes, 13.7 points, 31.6 3pt%, 6.5 boards, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals

An ACL tear is never good but when it happens during a contract year, it’s likely costing the player serious money. Before the injury, the 25-year-old may have been in line for at least the the MLE. The number of suitors has likely fallen away in recent months.

Like the Cavaliers, the Hawks’ summer looks pretty unpredictable with the Georgia franchise owning the number one pick while also deciding what to do with its backcourt. Does Atlanta start again with Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher or Donovan Clingan? Are Trae Young or Dejounte Murray traded? How does this impact free agents like Bey? The NBA Draft should give us an idea of what Landry Fields and the Hawks are thinking.

Drafted 19th by the Detroit Pistons in 2022, Bey was billed as elite three-point shooter out of Villanova, averaging 41.8 percent from long range during his two years as a Wildcat. Unfortunately, through his four years as a professional he’s failed to finish a season above 40 percent, registering a disappointing 31.6 percent through 63 games last season.

There’s every chance his reduced percentages are products of the franchises he’s played for, but we can only know that if he rediscovers his stroke in a new home.

Before he suffered the injury, Bey ranked sixth among forwards in offensive rebounds, pulling down 7.7 percent of missed Hawks shots.

At 6’8, he has the size to play both forward positions but he’s probably a little too small to guard some of the league’s bigger power forwards. He’s not a terrible defender, despite recently ranking in the worst quarter in steals and blocks among forwards.

Interestingly, the Blazers may have also already had a chance to secure Bey. At the 2023 trade deadline, the Pistons sent the wing to the Hawks as part of a larger trade involving Portland and the Golden State Warriors.

Preferring Kevin Knox II and four second round picks, perhaps the Blazers were wary of Bey’s pending free agency, unsure whether they were prepared to pay him a big sum. Now that the price is likely lower he may be a more palatable option given his current injury status.

I wouldn’t be upset with Bey, as long as the medicals were optimistic and the price was right, ie the Bi-Annual Exception. The fact that he’ll miss a good chunk of next season is no issue, considering the Blazers ideally have no interest in winning straight away anyway.

The deal would obviously have to go before the Hawks front office, given Bey’s restricted free agency but as mentioned we don’t know what they’re thinking right now.

Naji Marshall, New Orleans Pelicans
Aged: 26
Position: Wing
Availability: Unrestricted Free Agent
2023-24: 66 games, 19.0 minutes, 7.1 points, 38.7 3pt%, 3.6 boards, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals

The market for Marshall is a little trickier to read. There’s every chance he receives MLE-type money. But I think BAE is more realistic for the undrafted 6’7 wing who offers decent bulk, athleticism and versatility.

Marshall can be trusted to put the ball on the floor for short stints, he defends at a decent level, can get downhill and shoot the three ball. He’s also shown a willingness to do the little things, vying for 50-50 balls.

One factor that may prompt him to look elsewhere is the current make up of the Pelicans team. While Brandon Ingram could be moved this summer, Marshall looks to still be competing with the likes of Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones for real minutes. Perhaps a new scenery delivers him increased opportunity.

Last season, Marshall ranked 22nd among wings from three, 16th in midrange shooting, hitting 47.9 percent and 28th in steals, pinching 1.6 percent of opponent balls.

He was roughly middle of the pack when it came to effective field goal percentage (36th), two-point percentage (48th), corner three pointers, (44th),

For me, Marshall would be a nice under-the-radar signing for Portland, giving the Blazers a little more flexibility at the forward positions. Despite still being in his mid 20s, Marshall is an unrestricted free agent, providing the Blazers an easier path to sign him.

Conclusion

Free agency won’t be the highest priority for Cronin this summer. The draft and carefully executed trades are the Blazers two prime avenues forward with the franchise currently not flush with open roster spots and financial flexibility.

If they do dip into the free agency pool, they may opt for veteran minimum deals to fill out the roster. However, if they’re able create a little more room, they may be able to use one or both of the slightly larger exceptions discussed.

Okoro probably returns to the Cavaliers for the Mid-Level. Similarly, Melton likely remains in Philadelphia after the franchise secures its big free agent targets. If the Blazers can get Bey for the BAE, you’d have to consider it, if you were confident in his knee.

But spending the BAE on Marshall probably makes the most sense. He fits a positional need and, unlike the Pelicans, will be given more opportunity to ply his trade in Portland.

The opening to free agency is unlikely to deliver the Blazers too many headlines, but if they can somehow pry the undrafted wing out of New Orleans, I’d consider that a success.