Although it’s true that the Portland Trail Blazers originally signed Rondae Hollis-Jefferson just before the NBA’s deadline requiring teams to have at least 14 players on their roster, that didn’t mean that they merely viewed him as a roster filler.

The 10-day contract extended to him didn’t exactly scream commitment, but the hope was that Hollis-Jefferson could provide a jolt of energy, hustle and defense to a team sorely in need of a boost.

Hollis-Jefferson’s statistics through four outings aren’t astonishing (four points and three rebounds per game). But his play during Tuesday night’s 113-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Moda Center in Portland defined what Blazers coach Terry Stotts had hoped to extract from him.

In 24 minutes, Hollis-Jefferson produced five points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. He provided such energy that Stotts left the 6-foot-6 small forward in for nearly the entire fourth quarter with the game on the line while forwards Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. didn’t play a minute of the final quarter.

“I thought Rondae did a nice job defensively,” Stotts said. “I thought he just made some things happen and got some extra possessions, provided some energy and good length.”

The Blazers signed Hollis-Jefferson, released by Minnesota in December, to a second 10-day contract on Sunday, the day he started at Charlotte. Such contracts don’t offer stability but they do represent an opportunity for Hollis-Jefferson to maybe play his way into a longer-term gig in the NBA, where he feels he belongs.

“I think it’s definitely something big for me,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “Being home the last five months, going through so many different emotions, feeling like you can compete at the highest level against the best of the best, and having that moment where you feel people don’t want you for whatever reason, it’s tough.”

Being out of the NBA stung Hollis-Jefferson. After being released, he thought maybe his career had ended after five seasons. He felt wronged, believing that he could still play the game at a high level.

“There was a point where I didn’t watch any basketball at all because of the way I felt,” Hollis-Jefferson said.

Eventually, something hit him. Hollis-Jefferson, who played last season with Toronto after four seasons with Brooklyn, told himself that “good comes to good at the end of the day.” He became more positive. Stayed the course. Kept working and hoping. Working and hoping.

Then the Blazers called with an offer. Not lost on Hollis-Jefferson was the fact that the Blazers drafted him out of Arizona with the 23rd overall pick during the 2015 NBA draft but traded him to Brooklyn in a deal that brought Mason Plumlee and Pat Connaughton to Portland.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Hollis-Jefferson said regarding finally playing for the team that drafted him.

Hurting Hollis-Jefferson is that he isn’t much of a shooter in an era where not being able to hit from the 3-point line (21.3%) is a detriment for a wing player. The Blazers, however, have plenty of shooting. What they need is more defense and that’s what Hollis-Jefferson provides. He has been a plus defender in each of his five NBA seasons according to FiveThirtyEight.com.

“Coach Stotts told me what he wanted me to bring to the table and that’s exactly what I did,” Hollis-Jefferson said.

If Hollis-Jefferson continues to provide defense and energy, he could have a good chance to stick around this season. The uncertainty isn’t easy to deal with for a former first-round pick who is only 26 and has made 154 career starts.

“If you would have told me three years ago that I would be in this position, I would have laughed,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “Just being in this position right now, it’s really tough. It’s an eye-opener for me. It’s humbling.”

Hollis-Jefferson, who has made $9.2 million during his career, said his competitiveness and passion for the game made it tougher for him to be out of the league. Now those traits could forge his path back into it for a longer stay.

The uncertainty, he said, is difficult. But Hollis-Jefferson has accepted the challenge and knows that all he can do is his job and leave the rest up to those who make the decisions.

“I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity from the Portland organization, for believing in me and giving me this chance,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “It means the world to me. So, every chance I get out there to play I’m definitely never going to take it for granted. Things could go back to the way they were.”