Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from the 2018 offseason

2. Neil Olshey’s roster-balancing act

Portland didn’t make any big splashes with its moves this summer. However, the method to the lack of madness is apparent if you take a closer look. With each transaction, general manager Neil Olshey is looking to accomplish three objectives all at once.

The top objective is to make moves that will keep the team competitive for the duration of Lillard and McCollum’s contracts. The dynamic duo is under contract through 2020-21, so Olshey is always looking for players that can complement their skill-sets. Last summer, he drafted two bigs to shore up the frontcourt. This summer, Olshey fortified the guard positions.

Olshey also looks to keep the team from going much further into the luxury tax. The contracts of Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard and Maurice Harkless still weigh heavy on the Blazers’ cap space, and he has been unable to move any of them. As a result, the team is currently $12.6 million into the luxury tax.

Therefore, Olshey has done his best to work around the edges and make moves to cut salaries in the process. This year, he allowed Napier, Davis and Connaughton to walk while acquiring cheaper alternatives through the draft and signing Curry and Stauskas to short-term, minimum deals.

Lastly, Olshey looks to maintain a young roster that can compete now, but grow into a more formidable contender down the line. The Blazers had the ninth-youngest roster in the NBA last season at an average age of 25.6 years old. Simons and Trent Jr. joining the fold will continue to keep the team among the league’s most youthful heading into this season.

A case can be made that when you try to do everything, you end up accomplishing nothing. However, the results of this plan have turned out okay so far. The Blazers are currently on a five-year playoff streak and ended 2017-18 with their best conference finish since 2000. We will see if the plan continues to bear fruit in 2018-19.