Is Danilo Gallinari a Match for the Trail Blazers?

The Trail Blazers’ slow start and possession of expiring contracts have placed them at the center of the NBA trade universe. With Dec. 15 approaching, Portland’s place in the market is garnering plenty of attention.

Earlier in the week, HoopsHype writer Bryan Kalbrosky examined how Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari would fit inside the Blazers’ offense if a hypothetical trade occurred. Citing Gallinari’s stellar points per possession figure to start the year, Kalbrosky pointed to Portland’s methodical offense as an ideal pairing for both sides.

When identifying the market for Gallinari, however, one of the traits to look for is teams’ tempo. According to Synergy, Gallinari ranks in the 93rd percentile in a set offense but just in the 18th percentile in a transition offense.

Perhaps the main reason why this would be a good fit for Portland is that only one team (the Cleveland Cavaliers) finishes possessions in transitions less often than the Trail Blazers.

Similarly, the most commonly-used five-man lineup for Portland has played at one of the slowest paces in the league. That pace (99.6) is nearly identical to what Gallinari has averaged (99.9) for Oklahoma City.

Theoretical fit aside, Gallinari is in the final year of his contract, a detail that could curb the Blazers’ interest in the 31-year-old forward. Earlier in the week, NBC Sports Northwest’s Dwight Jaynes hinted that Portland is likely prioritizing moves that target players that have more than one year left on their contracts.

Gallinari is currently shooting 39.9 percent from beyond the arc and averaging 18.1 points per game.

You can read Kalbrosky’s full post at HoopsHype.