Here’s the reality check, though: The …

Here’s the reality check, though: The other alternatives probably would have failed too. There’s a reason we call players like this “replacement level” and not “improvement level.” The Blazers might only have a 15 percent chance of this working, but that’s better than the zero percent chance they had with the status quo. Of course, it’s unlikely to pay off; in-season street free agents don’t make the All-Star team. Most of the time, they’re available for a reason.