The Portland Trail Blazers swooped in to sign Bryce McGowens to a two-way contract after he was let go by the Charlotte Hornets during the California Classic Summer League. The 21-year-old wing spent two seasons with the North Carolina franchise after being taken with the 40th pick out of Nebraska in 2022.

His first deal with the Hornets was also a two-way contract, which was converted to a partially guaranteed four-year deal midway through his rookie season. Unfortunately, his 5.2 points on 33 percent from three, 1.9 boards and 1.0 assists failed to impress, prompting Charlotte to waive him before his contract was guaranteed for 2024-25.

But his first two campaigns were far from embarrassing, with McGowens earning 15.1 minutes a game and starting 21 of his 105 outings. He spent more than 60 percent of his time at shooting guard, almost 35 percent at small forward and less than five percent at point guard.

At 6’7 with a near 6’9 wingspan, the South Carolina native was initially considered a five-star recruit, boasting athleticism, length, basketball instincts and size for a shooting guard. His ability to put pressure on the rim is obvious, last year taking 56 percent of his shots within four feet and finishing 13th among wings in getting shots off in that range. McGowens can handle and facilitate but he needs to take better care of the ball, exemplified by his NBA career 1.0-to-0.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.

His impressive hops allow him to star in the open court and he has a knack for getting to the line. However, McGowens’ shot selection, efficiency and defensive intensity are still question marks. His limitations on defense come from limited lateral movement and issues working through screens. But I’m not out on his potential on that end of the floor. His measurements and overall athleticism suggest he can still be at least average on that end of the floor.

While McGowens is a good chance to go into the season with the Blazers, he will need to prove his worth in training camp to solidify that roster spot.

Summer League 2024

Before the Blazers secured his services, McGowens was productive, but hardly efficient, for the Hornets in northern California. In three games with his former team, the wing averaged 18.3 points on 20 percent from three-point range, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals in 26.1 minutes.

The stretch was highlighted by his game against the Sacramento Kings, registering 29 points on 33.3 percent from three, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 27.5 minutes. Waived on July 6, his performance was enough to entice Portland to snap him up before Las Vegas.

Through four games, all off the Blazers bench, McGowens averaged 15.8 points on 28.6 percent from three, 1.8 boards, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals in 20.0 minutes.

His best outing occurred against the Philadelphia 76ers, recording 20 points, also on 33.3 percent from three, 2 boards and 2 assists. It’s no exaggeration to suggest that without McGowens’ offense, the Blazers would have likely lost games against the 76ers and Washington Wizards. He provided the requisite offensive punch, including key free throw makes, late in games to secure the victories.

But let’s not get carried away. McGowens has two full NBA seasons under his belt. With his skillset and size, it’d be concerning if he hadn’t been productive during the Nevada showcase. He won’t have the same opportunity and touches once the real season starts and will have to fight tooth and nail for playing time.

How does he fit in Portland?

Assuming roster health, McGowens won’t be in the rotation on opening night. While the Blazers will be working towards accumulating losses this season, McGowens is still behind a list of young wings who will get priority ahead of him and rightly so.

Shaedon Sharpe, Rayan Rupert and Kris Murray will get first chance to prove their worth. This is the same opportunity McGowens was afforded with the Hornets. To save the Blazers from complete embarrassment, Coach Chauncey Billups will also give wing minutes to Matisse Thybulle, Deni Avdija and Dalano Banton, at least early on.

McGowens will consequently get to know the Blazers bench but he’ll likely spend more time at the Chiles Center with the Rip City Remix. The only way he sees big minutes as a Blazer early in the season is if the team is again hobbled by injury and/or he increases his defensive impact.

But this roadblock will only be temporary.

Come February’s trade deadline, the Blazers will likely part with one or two veterans, hopefully pushing the franchise a little closer to Cooper Flagg. The remaining veterans are likely to sit with “injuries” no one seemed aware of earlier in the season as the Blazers continue exhibiting their impressive tanking prowess.

McGowens should consequently play a key role in this final stretch of the season alongside fellow two-way contract Justin Minaya and some of the Blazers other young prospects.

Can McGowens earn a regular roster spot?

The 21-year-old is no stranger to the task in front of him. It should also be noted that despite his two years in the NBA, McGowens is still younger than Deni Avidija, Toumani Camara, Kris Murray and Jabari Walker. He’s also only six months older than Shaedon Sharpe.

Like Trendon Watford two-and-a-half years ago, the path from two-way contract is a legitimate way for young players looking for first, second or third chances to stick in the NBA. Incumbent teams can convert two-way contracted players to standard minimum salary deals with the amount of money earned dictated by the player’s years of service.

But unless an unlikely trade occurs before the start of the season, McGowens may have to wait until the Blazers do a multiplayer deal, reducing the roster size from the maximum 15.

He’ll also be competing for a promotion with Minaya and the third two-way contracted player the team will likely bring in over the next couple of months.

McGowens’ ceiling is …

I want to temper expectations here. I don’t think McGowens has the game or temperament to be an NBA starter. But if he puts it all together, he has it in him to be a first or second guard off the bench on a good team. Someone a coach can be confident in to keep the scoreboard ticking over while the starters sit.

As mentioned, his chances of success rise even further if he’s able to put his impressive physical measurements to use on the defensive end. The 6’9 wingspan and athleticism should, at the very least, help him achieve average defensive wing status.

On offense, he lacks the efficiency and basketball IQ of a Malik Monk or a Jamal Crawford, but McGowens has the “sometimes irrational” confidence those two players possess(ed). The key here is not to try and do too much, getting to his spots and taking care of the basketball.

Conclusion

There are still a lot of “ifs” surrounding McGowens. A re-building team like Charlotte wouldn’t have given up on a young athletic wing without good reason. But sometimes a new scenery is all a young payer needs to mature his game.

I doubt this is his final chance at an NBA career but he doesn’t want to have failed to stick on two NBA squads before his rookie-scale deal would have ended.

While he’s unlikely to get a lot of opportunity early in the season, his offensive skillset may thrust him into the court as the Blazers turn to the draft lottery in February and March.

His performances in training camp and through the preseason schedule should give us an indication of where he stands in Billups’ eyes.