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Portland Trail Blazers: Are They Really That Bad?

By Greg Chin

Apr 29, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Portland Trailblazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the final seconds against the Memphis Grizzlies in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Portland 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Portland Trailblazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the final seconds against the Memphis Grizzlies in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Portland 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA.com Power Rankings made a return this week, with the rankings reflecting the offseason changes that certain teams underwent. The team that suffered the biggest drop in the rankings was the Portland Trail Blazers, who went from 8th last season to 27th in the mid-summer rankings.

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While it does seem harsh to suggest that the Trail Blazers will be the third worst team in the league, one can see why NBA.com’s Jon Schumann has them this low. They lost four of their five starters (Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez) and haven’t been able to replace the departed talent on their roster. By all indications, the front office has decided to start from scratch, and rebuild the team around star point guard Damian Lillard.

But are the Blazers really going to be that bad? Are they really worse than the Denver Nuggets, who are coming off one of the most dysfunctional seasons in franchise history? Or the Los Angeles Lakers, who are banking on an aging Kobe Bryant and a raw Julius Randle, both who are coming back from season-ending injuries? Or perhaps, even the Brooklyn Nets, who will be without Deron Williams and made cost-cutting moves during the offseason to cut their luxury tax payments?

As it stands, the Blazers will be sporting a starting lineup of Lillard, Gerald Henderson, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, and Mason Plumlee. Admittedly, it isn’t a starting five that will excite many fans, but there is some talent to be found on the roster.

One of the biggest surprises for me this offseason was that no one was willing to take a chance on Ed Davis. Watching him from his days as a Toronto Raptor, Davis was the young, athletic and promising center that many teams dream of having nowadays. But just as he was beginning to breakout, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was buried in the rotation behind one of the best frontcourt rotations in the league.

His lone season with the Los Angeles Lakers wasn’t much to write home about too. Excelling in the pick-and-roll, Davis simply didn’t fit with coach Byron Scott’s style of offense. But when he and Jeremy Lin combined in the pick-and-roll, it reminded people of his talent and ability as a finisher in the set. In Lillard, Davis will have one of the best attackers in the pick-and-roll. Able to drive to the hoop or pull up for a shot, Lillard’s mastery of the pick-and-roll will finally give Davis the fit that he needs to flourish.

Mason Plumlee looked set for a big breakout season after some surprising performances with Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. He battled Brook Lopez for the starting center position for most of the season, before losing it completely and nearly dropping out of the rotation altogether midway through the season. It was a startling fall for a player whom the Brooklyn Nets refused to give up in a reported salary dump involving Deron Williams, as the Nets just basically gave up Plumlee for the Blazers’ 23rd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

It’s easy to see the sudden rise and fall of Plumlee’s stock. He gave the Nets a big man to rally around while Lopez was dealing with his injuries, but when Lopez returned to form, it was clear that Plumlee was never going to outperform Lopez’s contributions. On the court, Plumlee provides defense, low-volume scoring, and average rebounding. In some ways, he could very well be the Blazers’ replacement for Robin Lopez.

Aminu and Henderson are nice additions to the team, but Henderson might only be with the Blazers for one season. The Blazers could be looking to develop C.J. McCollum throughout the season, and Henderson could see his minutes decrease as the season goes on. Aminu figures to be part of the long-term plan for the Blazers, and with the Blazers trading for Maurice Harkless, Allen Crabbe might no longer be part of the Blazers for long.

The good news for Blazers’ fans next season is that the team is stocked with young talent. Nearly every position features an under-24 year old player who could end up being an All-Star (McCollum at SG, Harkless at SF, Noah Vonleh at PF, Meyers Leonard at C) – and those aren’t the projected starters, according to ESPN.com. And with Chris Kaman and Gerald Henderson the only players above the age of 27 (I’m not counting Mike Miller because it seems likely that he will be waived), the Blazers are a very, very young team.

Third worst in the league next season does seem a bit harsh, when you consider the talent they have at every position, and the continued improvement from Damian Lillard. The Blazers will end up with more losses than wins, but the future of the team seems very bright. And with an astute coach like Terry Stotts at the helm, you can be sure that the Blazers will be a well-coached outfit.

And even if the worst-case scenario does happen, nothing beats the lows of when Raymond Felton was a Portland Trail Blazer.

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