The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly targeting free agent center Festus Ezeli as the team would like to add depth to their frontcourt.
Rumors abound that head coach Terry Stotts is looking to upgrade his big man lineup to complement the strength his backcourt tandem of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Currently, the Blazers have Mason Plumlee and Ed Davis at the center spot while Noah Vonleh and Cliff Alexander alternates at the power forward position.
CBS Sports reported that the Blazers are "looking at Festus Ezeli as big-man option" as they brought him to Portland for "a physical and to talk to him about a possible fit and contract".
Portland finished the recent season with a second round 4-1 loss to the Golden State Warriors after pulling off a 44-38 regular season, fifth in the stacked Western Conference.
Adding Ezeli will not only be a great help to the Blazers frontline but it would also allow the 26-year-old Benin City, Nigeria native to perhaps move into a starting role and grow more to reach his full potential as a basketball player.
Ezeli had always been a substitute center for Golden State throughout his so far three-year career, averaging only 14.1 minutes per game during the said time span.
Last season, he played 16.7 minutes a night, a career-high, in 46 games for the Warriors and starting in 13 of them. He averaged career-highs of 7.0 points in 54.8 percent field goal shooting, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks along with 0.7 assists and 0.4 steals per game.
While the three-year pro is still not polished as an offensive player, his strengths have always been rebounding and defense, two things that Portland needs to address to further contend next season.
His 6-foot-11, 255-pound frame is enough to clog the lane for drives while he is a high-percentage inside scorer when given the right passes at the right spots, something that Lillard could provide for him eventually.
Fansided noted that after Kevin Durant's decision to join the Warriors, Golden State would have to release some of their players to make room for the former MVP's huge contract and Ezeli is one of those who needed to be moved to make it happen.
Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut were let go and are now joining the Dallas Mavericks and Ezeli is allegedly not far behind from also being released.