Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from the 2018 offseason
1. The Blazers are still lost in the pack
Portland’s under-the-radar moves this summer could very well pay off once the ball is tipped in 2018-19. However, they weren’t enough to separate themselves from the rest of the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors will likely remain in a tier of their own atop the heap, thanks in part to the addition of DeMarcus Cousins. Everything else is up in the air from there.
Three teams that missed the playoffs last year will be pushing for the postseason this year. Obviously, the Los Angeles Lakers have entered the playoff conversation with the addition of LeBron James, the best player in the league.
The Denver Nuggets are also making a stronger case for a playoff berth by drafting high-risk, high-reward prospect Michael Porter Jr. Lastly, the Los Angeles Clippers will could also be involved in this brawl if they remain healthy.
Contrastly, the Houston Rockets – who finished last year with the NBA’s best record – may have taken a step back after losing defensive wings Luc Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza in free agency. We will see if the additions of Carmelo Anthony and James Ennis will be enough to fill the void.
Throwing in the remaining 2018 playoff teams — the Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves — means that at least 10 teams will be slugging it out for just seven playoff spots.
Next. 2018 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far. dark
The Portland Trail Blazers used this summer to shore up their bench for this upcoming battle. However, they failed to acquire a player that would move them into that next tier of playoff contention. This means the team will likely be jostling for position for much of 2018-19, leading to a season of great intrigue — and possible frustration — in Rip City.