Andrew Kasmarek, Mitch Pratt and Charlie Tritschler are getting you ready for the NBA season. The previews feature all sorts of information to get you ready for the start of the season.
The Trail Blazers are a team that I might, unfortunately, compare to the Milwaukee Bucks. They seem to also be stuck spinning their tires in the muck that is the no man's land of the NBA. That said, they aren't quite as mediocre as the Bucks and are definitely better off than the Bucks in their current state. The Bucks are probably a few years away from being a carbon copy of the Blazers (John Henson turning into a poor man's LaMarcus Aldridge with another step forward this year, Giannis Antetokounmpo turning into a better Nicolas Batum and possibly a guard to be their Damian Lillard with a lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft).
The Blazers aren't going to contend for a championship this year and with question marks surrounding Wisconsin native Wes Matthews' irregular heartbeat and Meyers Leonard (2012 lottery pick) not winning the backup center spot behind Robin Lopez the team is shaky at best. Granted, they've probably been the most unfortunate team in the NBA in regard to injuries over the past six years. Considering 2007 number one overall selection, Greg Oden, is made of glass and Brandon Roy heading for early retirement because of a degenerative knee condition, the Blazers are doing better than other teams might do under the same circumstances.
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| The NBA's 2012-13 Rookie of The Year, Damian Lillard |
The Big Question: Will the "Big 3" remain intact for the entire season? - Call me crazy for even bringing it up but we have sniffed rumors of Portland moving Aldridge for the right price. What that price is may be different in the eyes of Portland GM Neil Olshey and other general managers around the league. He's really the only one of the three I see being moved (Batum is under contract for three more years and Lillard is the reigning NBA Rookie of The Year) and it'll probably come around the trade deadline, if at all. I don't think the Blzaers are dumb enough (Bucks) to add to their team to get that coveted 8 seed if they are in the mix for it. They may look to move LMA around the deadline and tank out the season, if they're in that position. Aldridge should have high value as he averages 18 ppg and 8 rebounds per game for his career (over 21 ppg that last three season), can play PF or C and is locked up for one more year of his prime after this season (just turned 28 years old). Given that, Portland can get a pretty solid return. I wouldn't mind seeing the Bucks make a play for him but I digress.
Key Additions: C Robin Lopez, G Mo Williams, PG Earl Watson, SF Dorell Wright - Lopez had a nice year last year in New Orleans and emerged as a legit starting center. Williams and Watson will be competent, veteran backups behind Lillard this year. Williams and Wright will provide scoring punch off the bench and Watson can run an offense well as a backup (over four assists per game that last two years off the bench).
Key Departures: F/C JJ Hickson - Hickson averaged 12 and 10 as an undersized center but has moved on to the "greener" pastures Denver.
Blazers Draft: G CJ McCollum, G/F Allen Crabbe - The Blazers came out of the draft with these two sharp-shooters. McCollum was taken 10th overall out of Lehigh and is the Patriot League's all time leading scorer and Crabbe will inevitably spread the floor as a three point shooting wing.
Prediction: I think the Blazers end up taking a marginal step forward this year and surpassing their win total from last year (33) but not enough to make much noise in the West. Of course, if Lillard takes another step and becomes a superstar and Batum turns into an occasional triple-double threat, the Blazers could win the Northwest division. I find that to be unlikely, however.
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