For the last few seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers have lacked production and a collective toughness in the frontcourt. The organization made a move on Thursday to try and remedy that problem.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers agreed to a deal with free agent forward Patrick Patterson on Thursday. The 11-year NBA veteran will join Portland for training camp later this fall and try to earn a more permanent spot on the roster.
Patterson spent his last two years in the Los Angeles Clippers rotation as a reliable role player. During the 2020-21 season, he played in 38 games and made five starts, averaging 5.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per contest. He shot 43.6 percent from the floor and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc on 2.9 attempts per game.
At 6-foot-9 and as a reliable three-point shooter, Patterson has plenty to offer a Blazers frontcourt that’s suffered from a lack of depth in recent years. He can space the floor for Damian Lillard and play valuable rotation minutes for a team with deep postseason intentions.
Free agent F Patrick Patterson has agreed to a training camp deal with the Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Patterson — an 11-year veteran — played the last two seasons with the Clippers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2021
Patterson landed in the NBA back in 2010 when the Houston Rockets selected him with the 14th overall pick. He played a little less than three years in Houston before he was traded to the Sacramento Kings.
After 41 games with the Kings, Patterson was dealt again to the Toronto Raptors where he became a member of four consecutive playoffs teams. He also played for the Oklahoma City Thunder for two seasons.
It’s important to note that Patterson isn’t guaranteed a spot on the Blazers final roster with his deal. He’ll need to earn a further opportunity in Portland at training camp.
Given his experience and fit with the Blazers, Patterson has a good chance to claim one of the last roster spots and head into the 2021-22 season with Portland.
The post Blazers Reportedly Signing Veteran NBA Forward appeared first on The Spun.
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