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NBA Rumor Central: Blazers will be active during draft, free agency

The Portland Trail Blazers do not own a selection in the 2016 NBA draft as their first-round pick went to the Denver Nuggets and the second-round pick was traded to the Chicago Bulls. According to general manager Neil Olshey, he will look at all options to acquire a pick in the June 23 draft.

"We always have a draft pick; we work for Paul Allen," Olshey told CSNNW.com.

A week after the draft, free agency begins on July 1 and Olshey is also planning to pitch Portland as a good home for the top available players.

"The easy way out is to say, 'Hey we are in non-destination market, we aren’t going to play in that pond,'" Olshey said. "I don’t think that is true ... We just need to get the first domino to fall."

The Blazers were the surprise team in the NBA this season after they lost four starters last summer, made the 2016 playoffs and played hard against the Golden State Warriors in the second round.

Olshey has already completed an important piece of business as he signed head coach Terry Stotts to a three-year extension on Tuesday. Now the focus shifts to the draft and free agency.

"There’s still work to be done," Olshey said. "We’ll look for upgrades. We’ll find ways to continue to build the roster."

The Blazers should have between $20 million to $25 million of salary-cap room in July to spend on free agents or use to acquire players via trade.

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