Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: Impact of the 2015 Trade Deadline

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 31
Next
Feb 22, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives the lane against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives the lane against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Portland Trail Blazers

Previous: No. 8

Record: 36-19

Last Week: 0-2

Key Acquisition: Arron Afflalo, SG

Entering the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline, the Portland Trail Blazers had an elite starting lineup and a lackluster bench. Entering the latter part of the season, the second unit is set to receive a massive boost.

Not only is Meyers Leonard thriving, but Portland acquired 3-and-D specialist Arron Afflalo from the Denver Nuggets.

Afflalo struggled in Denver, but he averaged 18.2 points on a slash line of .459/.427/.815 in 2013-14 with the Orlando Magic. Leonard, meanwhile, has made 30 3-point field goals–No. 3 all-time for a single season amongst players 7’1″ or taller, per Basketball-Reference.com.

According to Sean Meagher of The Oregonian, Afflalo is ready to pick his spots and fill his role.

"“They want me to be my best but out of respect for my teammates you want to come out there and feel the game (out) a little bit, so I was a little passive. But I see the potential and I see the opportunity there and I learn from Game 1 and become more and more aggressive with confidence.” “It’s totally different when you get out there into a competitive environment and the speed picks up a hundred times more,” Afflalo said. “I’ll figure out how to pick my spots (within the flow of the game), so that I can be very productive for this team.” “It’s not going to be something that holds me back,” he said of moving into a reserve role. “I’m not the only player that has to adjust; (Wesley Matthews) and (Nicolas Batum) and other guys in that rotation with me are adjusting as well. “Mentally I’m fine. It’s just physically, knowing that when I come in there, what is the flow of the game, versus when you’re a starter, you can kind of dictate the flow. I’ll adjust. I’ll be fine. Again, my sole intent every game is to try to win.”"

By adding Afflalo as the sixth man, the Trail Blazers become a dramatically improved team.

Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge are all between high and star-caliber players. Chris Kaman and Robin Lopez are just as valuable at center.

Should Afflalo, Leonard and C.J. McCollum perform up to their levels of expectation, Portland will be a Top 5 team again.

Next: Thriving Without a Star