Duop Reath signs three-year deal with Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers big man Duop Reath has agreed to a three-year deal with the organization, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report Friday.
Reath was previously on a two-way contract, which limits him to a maximum of 50 games played. His two-way contract was set to expire after this season, where he would have entered restricted free agency if he was extended a qualifying offer.
The Blazers are using a portion of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Reath and remain below the luxury tax, according to ESPN NBA Cap insider Bobby Marks. According to Spotrac, he will be on the books for roughly $380K the rest of the season with a starting salary of $1.9 million in 2024-25 and $2.2 million in 2025-26.
Reath, 27, had just 10 games left before his two-way contract expired. He’s been arguably Portland’s best center this season. That group includes Deandre Ayton, who’s had a disappointing first season with the Blazers after getting traded from the Phoenix Suns in the offseason. Reath’s averaging 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from 3-point range (3.3 3PA).
Reath was featured in Jarrod Prosser’s very own rookie rankings in January and has continued to blossom (this rookie class is stacked, mind you). He’s clearly shown he can stretch the floor–opening up room for its notable creators, such as Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson and Jerami Grant, among others. Standing at 6-foot-11, 245 pounds, Reath’s nimble while showing flashes as a capable offensive rebounder and screener.
While there may be more to contextualize, Blazers are 9.0 points per 100 possessions better with Reath on the floor in non-garbage time possessions, which grades in the 96th percentile amongst other bigs, according to Cleaning The Glass. They are also three percent better on the offensive glass (79th percentile) and 0.4 percent better on the defensive glass (46th percentile) in the halfcourt with Reath.
Even though restricted free agency limits the number of suitors for Reath, he would’ve likely had a market if it ultimately came to that point–even if it was a small one. Now, the Blazers won’t have to sweat anything out for their 27-year-old big.
It was a good–and very well-deserved–move for both sides. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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