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The Portland Trail Blazers just made their first financial commitment to Vít Krejčí for next season.
A small one ... but a commitment nonetheless.
According to NBA salary-cap analyst Keith Smith, Krejčí’s contract became partially guaranteed for $250,000 on Saturday.
The 26-year-old is scheduled to earn approximately $2.67 million in 2026-27, with the remainder becoming fully guaranteed if he remains on Portland’s roster through opening night.
So ... does this mean Krejčí secured his place with the Blazers?
Not quite.
Portland can still waive him before the full-guarantee date and owe only $250,000. The trigger merely creates a modest financial consequence if the franchise eventually chooses another option.
But the Blazers already have considerably more invested in Krejčí than that.
Portland acquired the 6-foot-8 guard from the Atlanta Hawks in February for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks. He arrived after averaging a career-high nine points and converting 42.3% of his 3-point attempts across 46 games with Atlanta.
The logic was obvious.
Portland desperately needed (and still does) shooting, and Krejčí had converted more than 40% of his 3-pointers during each of his previous two seasons before maintaining that efficiency with Atlanta.
Then his jumper disappeared.
Krejčí averaged 7.2 points in 19 appearances with the Blazers while shooting 40.5% from the field and only 30.3% from deep. He later missed 12 consecutive games with a calf injury and appeared for only 16 total minutes during Portland’s first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
That's a difficult sample to evaluate.
Nineteen games shouldn't erase several years of strong shooting, particularly after Krejčí changed teams during the season. His career 39.3% mark from behind the arc suggests the Portland stretch was more likely a slump than a new normal.
The Blazers also still need his primary skill.
They converted only 34.3% of their 3-pointers last season, making additional spacing important around Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson, Deni Avdija and Portland’s interior-oriented centers.
Krejčí can provide that without requiring the ball. His size also allows him to see over smaller defenders and function as a secondary passer when opponents chase him away from the perimeter.
But his roster spot isn't guaranteed.
Portland has 14 players under standard contracts, with Krejčí, Micah Potter and Sidy Cissoko lacking fully guaranteed salaries. Each must prove he fills a need the rest of the roster cannot.
Krejčí has a compelling argument.
The Blazers traded draft capital to acquire him, still lack dependable shooting and can retain him at a reasonable salary.
Saturday's $250,000 guarantee doesn't complete that decision.
It gives Portland until opening night to determine whether the shooter it targeted in February can rediscover himself before another financial clock expires.
Continue reading...
A small one ... but a commitment nonetheless.
According to NBA salary-cap analyst Keith Smith, Krejčí’s contract became partially guaranteed for $250,000 on Saturday.
The 26-year-old is scheduled to earn approximately $2.67 million in 2026-27, with the remainder becoming fully guaranteed if he remains on Portland’s roster through opening night.
So ... does this mean Krejčí secured his place with the Blazers?
Not quite.
Portland can still waive him before the full-guarantee date and owe only $250,000. The trigger merely creates a modest financial consequence if the franchise eventually chooses another option.
But the Blazers already have considerably more invested in Krejčí than that.
Portland acquired the 6-foot-8 guard from the Atlanta Hawks in February for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks. He arrived after averaging a career-high nine points and converting 42.3% of his 3-point attempts across 46 games with Atlanta.
The logic was obvious.
Portland desperately needed (and still does) shooting, and Krejčí had converted more than 40% of his 3-pointers during each of his previous two seasons before maintaining that efficiency with Atlanta.
Then his jumper disappeared.
Krejčí averaged 7.2 points in 19 appearances with the Blazers while shooting 40.5% from the field and only 30.3% from deep. He later missed 12 consecutive games with a calf injury and appeared for only 16 total minutes during Portland’s first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
That's a difficult sample to evaluate.
Nineteen games shouldn't erase several years of strong shooting, particularly after Krejčí changed teams during the season. His career 39.3% mark from behind the arc suggests the Portland stretch was more likely a slump than a new normal.
The Blazers also still need his primary skill.
They converted only 34.3% of their 3-pointers last season, making additional spacing important around Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson, Deni Avdija and Portland’s interior-oriented centers.
Krejčí can provide that without requiring the ball. His size also allows him to see over smaller defenders and function as a secondary passer when opponents chase him away from the perimeter.
But his roster spot isn't guaranteed.
Portland has 14 players under standard contracts, with Krejčí, Micah Potter and Sidy Cissoko lacking fully guaranteed salaries. Each must prove he fills a need the rest of the roster cannot.
Krejčí has a compelling argument.
The Blazers traded draft capital to acquire him, still lack dependable shooting and can retain him at a reasonable salary.
Saturday's $250,000 guarantee doesn't complete that decision.
It gives Portland until opening night to determine whether the shooter it targeted in February can rediscover himself before another financial clock expires.
Continue reading...
