Portland Trail Blazers: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season

1. Are the Blazers good enough to compete in the Western Conference?

In a vacuum, the Portland Trail Blazers had a solid summer. They re-signed a key member of their starting lineup, acquired more perimeter shooting for their playmakers to utilize and took a chance on a high-ceiling rookie that could pay off down the road.

However, in the context of the rest of the Western Conference, their moves seemed puzzling and uninspiring. LeBron James shifted conferences and joined the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs acquired DeMar DeRozan via trade and even All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Golden State Warriors.

The magnitude of those moves have left analysts and Blazers fans rightfully wondering if the moves Portland made will be enough to keep up with the rest of the West. The names they acquired aren’t flashy, so by extension, expectations are low on their potential impact.

It should be noted, however, that Blazers reeled off a 13-game winning streak when the team was at its peak and at full health. Though three members of the team’s rotation have left, there are a number of ways those lost minutes can be filled in. Returning players can absorb that time with the presumption they will step up their production, or new acquisitions can come in with the goal of making an instant impact.

However the lineups work out, and despite the panic, the Trail Blazers are still more than capable of competing in the Western Conference. With the rosters around them making bigger moves, it will simply be a tougher fight night in and night out. If Portland wants to keep up, the team will have to collectively play at their highest level.