The offensive end of the floor wasn’t terribly kind to Tyrese Maxey in his lone season at Kentucky, but the hard-nosed guard has a reputation that’s difficult to deny. He guards hard, his locker room presence has earned sterling remarks, and he’s a true competitor. He willingly does the little things necessary to win games, and NBA teams will appreciate that.
Portland has developed a reputation of their own. They tend to value long-term upside over NBA preparedness, so Maxey — a prospect with good pedigree and good tools, but whose immediate future is hazy — is a suitable match.
Thought slightly undersized for a natural two-guard, Maxey has decent playmaking skills and promise as a pull-up shooter. His on-ball defense is a treat to watch, and he should provide a spark to the Blazers’ bench. Portland needs more guard help, especially if the future of the Damian Lillard-CJ McCollum pairing is called into question.