Portland Trailblazers Season Preview

Portland Trailblazers

2014 record 51-31

2015 O/U 26.5

Who are their stars?

All of the sudden this became solely Damian Lillards’ team. While Lamarcus Aldridge is now gone, the Blazers seemed to have saw it coming by immediately giving “video game Dame” a 5 year 120 million dollar extension. They also provided Lillard with a bunch of replacement level players so it is possible for the Blazers to have some high points, but with the lack of a major star like Aldrudge, the Blazers will certainly have their downs. Adding losses to Nic Batum, Robin Lopez, and Nic Batum and you have the Lillard show. Lillard averaged 21 points per game last year, and you would assume that that may go up. Lillard is a shot creator, and he is a guy that can put the team on his back if he must. The one down fall he does have is that he is a liability on defense, and not having an underrated defender like Aldridge as well as Lopez, and Matthews the Blazers lost the three best defenders on the team. It is going to be interesting how to build with the 25 year old Lillard, but you would expect the rebuild is on to have a team peaking in about two years.

Who are the Glue Guys?

Al Farouq-Aminu is a guy that you can always build with. He is the classic 3-and-D guy with the emphasis on the D. He can watch most wing players in the league and given what came out of this team, it was a must to sign Aminu, as the Blazers wasted no time in free agency to sign him. In trading Nick Batum, the Blazer received Noah Vonleh, and Gerald Henderson. When I look at the trade I see Henderson being the guy who can start now, but may not be here long, and Vonleh being the guy that in two years when this team comes together we all remember how he got here. Vonleh is only twenty and to get drafted by Michael Jordan to Charlotte is a death wish. Portland is a better environment and his raw skill gives him a chance. Mason Plumlee was the last key name added to the core in Portland, and it was another move I like. He can play the power forward and while Vonleh gets minutes Plumlee can play center. CJ McCollum is the last name to mention, and he can be placed in a role as a sixth man type of player. On paper the 25 year old Lillard playing with McCollum, 24, Aminu, 25, Vonleh, 20, and Plumlee, at 25 as well as rotational center Meyers Leonard at age 23 this is a core group of players, that in two years, if kept in tact you will actually see a competitive group.

Who are the rotational players?

Leonard kicks off the rotational players and I really hope he gets every chance to be a starter for this team. In smaller lineups, and when Vonleh plays, he can rotate with Plumlee, yes, but I like the idea of Plumlee playing next to Leonard much more than the Plumlee playing next to Chris Kaman. Kaman is an old veteran who has peaked a couple of years ago. Ed Davis may see minutes at center too, but Leonard, at 23, has his flaws, and a limited ceiling, but he can shoot, and space the floor much better, and as mentioned the Blazers need to throw out youth and see what sticks. Guys like Mo Harkless, Allan Crabbe, and Pat Connaugton, are the guys you should watch. Most have the upside of rotational players, but they are all young and should see the most NBA minutes of their career this season.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far can they go?

Overall, this team is not going to make the playoffs. As I mentioned they youth of this team is its strength, and seeing what they have should be the motive. With that said they have a first round pick that will be traded to Denver if they make the playoffs. With the youth, a lottery pick would really fit better, than a first round exit and a loss of a draft pick. Just saying. I don’t think this team is going anywhere and 26.5 sounds like a top ten pick, and I certainly agree and may lean under.

Under 26.5 14th in the Western Conference, 26th in the NBA