After the Portland Trail Blazers traded Evan Turner to the Atlanta Hawks for Kent Bazemore, there were a variety of reactions across Rip City. But one thing is certain, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic (subscription required): the team is losing a leader in the locker room and a consummate professional.
Turner knows what it means to be a veteran and guide to younger players, especially Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. While being a leader comes with many qualities that are hard to pin down, Turner’s actions in Portland spoke as loudly as his words.