PORTLAND, Ore. (February 21, 2022) – The Trail Blazers have signed forward Trendon Watford to a standard NBA contract, the team announced today. In a related move, Portland has waived guard Dennis Smith Jr.
Watford, 21, has appeared in 33 games for the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 4.5 points (59.0% FG, 68.6% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.45 blocks in 12.6 minutes per game. A rookie out of LSU, Watford leads all first-year players that have taken at least 100 shots in field goal percentage. Originally signed to a two-way contract by Portland after going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Watford ranked second among all players on two-way contracts this season in blocks (15), third in total rebounds (106), fourth in games played (33), fifth in points (149), and seventh in assists (35).