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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 reasons to be excited for 2018-19 NBA season

By Raymond Simms

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 13: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers high five during the game against the Denver Nuggets on November 13, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 13: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers high five during the game against the Denver Nuggets on November 13, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Role players are ready to step up

As with every Media Day in pro sports, players go up to the podium and talk about how excited they are for the season and how they feel better than they ever have before. The feelings weren’t any different in Portland, as every player stepped to the mic and brought up ways they could make the team better this year.

The biggest spotlight outside of Lillard and McCollum will be on Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic signed a new four-year, $48 million deal that solidifies him as the starting center in the Rose City for the foreseeable future. He will be looking to become more reliable on both ends in the post, and ultimately aim to average a double-double on the year.

Fellow role starters Al-Farouq Aminu and Maurice Harkless, as well as sixth man Evan Turner, each had solid seasons in their respective roles. So this year, they will be ready to pick up where they left off.

Second-year big Caleb Swanigan and rookie guard Anfernee Simons will simply be looking to grow as players, hoping to fit seamlessly into the game plan and deliver in the moments when head coach Terry Stotts calls upon them. On the other hand, newcomer Seth Curry, second-year Blazer Wade Baldwin and rookie Gary Trent Jr. are all aiming to contribute off of the bench right out of the gate.

Lastly, players such as Meyers Leonard, Jake Layman and Nik Stauskas will all be aiming to turn their respective careers around. Each of them haven’t lived up to the expectations bestowed upon them, but they have the tools to contribute positively to this year’s team.

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