Cody Zeller has been one of the more pleasant surprises for the Portland Trail Blazers during this young and slightly underwhelming NBA season. Signed to Portland on a veteran minimum contract with little-to-no fanfare, the “Big Handsome” has bounded into the hearts of Blazers fans with heady and energetic play. After eight years as a starter with the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats, Zeller has seamlessly slotted into Portland’s reserve center role — behind everyone’s favorite polarizing Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic.
A fortnight ago, I wrote about the Blazers’ shallow frontcourt, with Larry Nance Jr. and Robert Covington the only two players — other than Nurkic and Zeller — capable but unsustainably able to play minutes at the five.