As the dust settles on the Portland Trail Blazers’ surprise trade for Robert Covington, NBA experts and analysts are delivering takes on the deal.
When asked whether the Blazers or Phoenix Suns would have the better 2020-21 season, The Jump’s Kendrick Perkins used his platform to wax lyrical about Portland’s prospects.
Perkins explained that the addition of Covington, coupled with the return of players from the injury list, could result in the Blazers turning heads in the upcoming season.
“I got the Portland Trail Blazers finishing second or third.”
“When you look at that Portland Trail Blazer team, Damian Lillard is the best point guard in the league. CJ McCollum is one of the top shooting guards in the league and you add Robert Covington alongside big Nurkic who is a top five center in the league.”
“I love everything about the Portland Trail Blazers and I strongly believe that they’re going to finish with the second or third seed in the west, possibly the one seed with the roster that they have.”
Perkins’ former teammate Paul Pierce wasn’t as effusive about Portland’s final seeding, but he did say that the Blazers had a chance to contend for home-court advantage.
“Perk, what you got in your cup this morning man?”
“I like everything the Blazers are doing, yeah they’re going to be a top team,”
“I’m not sure about number one or two because I like what Denver has over there, Utah are probably going to get better, we don’t know the situation in Houston.”
“I like the Blazers, I like the move, they’ll be a top 4 or 5 team if they don’t have any injuries.”
You can listen to the discussion about the Blazers at the 38-minute mark of Tuesday’s episode of The Jump.