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On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is joined by Nekias Duncan of basketballnews.com (and follower of all things Miami Heat) to talk about: the Trail Blazer’s offseason acquisitions; specifically former Miami Heat wing Derrick Jones Jr. They also discuss the potential impact that Robert Covington could have on the Blazers, a changing and possibly more aggressive Portland defense, how the rotation could shake out, and where Portland sits in a loaded Western Conference.
Intro
Nekias Duncan on the show!
Opening Comments
Thoughts on Derrick Jones Jr getting the MLE 1:30
Who Does DJJ remind you of? 3:30
What will DJJ’s primary role be in Portland? 5:45
DJJ is the best athlete Portland has had in two decades 7:30
What are the drawbacks of DJJ - what will keep him off the floor? 9:00
Do you believe he can continue to add to his game? 10:30
Do you think DJJ is going to have the work rate to maximize his potential? 13:30
Does coming to Portland unlock anything for DJJ? 14:30
How good are DJJ’s hands - can he go catch it anywhere? 17:00
Thoughts on the addition of Robert Covington? 18:00
Will Portland get more aggressive defensively this year? 19:00
Is Covington a floor raiser or a ceiling raiser? 22:00
Portland has added a lot of bigs, is this the way to go? 24:00
Portland has real versatility now - can they mix & match? 26:00
Is Covington more of a 3 or a 4? 27:00
What’s the best starting lineup Portland could roll out with everyone healthy? 28:00
Does Portland need to add another ball handler? 31:00
The Blazers have a 2nd generation behind the starters 33:00
What do you like about Harry Giles and his fit in Portland? 34:00
How much should Giles play? 38:00
The return of Carmelo Anthony 41:00
What will Melo’s role be this season? 42:00
Who is left out of the rotation in the frontcourt? 46:00
After the early free agency period, where do the Blazers land in the Western Conference? 48:00
Have the Blazers done enough to make a Western Conference Finals run? 50:30
How the Western Conference is shaping up; Luka Doncic, Chris Paul to the Suns 53:30
What would Portland have to do to be a clear-cut contender? 54:30
Closing comments
Outro