Before the start of last season, I looked at the roster and I saw a bunch of players who were, for the most part, who they were. Slightly above-average role players (Felton, Matthews, Craig Smith) or near has-beens (Camby, Crawford). This year? Even though the roster isn't finalized, I feel energized. I feel like the team has a lot of players with significant potential, and while there's a chance that they might not win a lot of games this year, I am very encouraged about the team's future. I see the roster this way, and it makes me smile: PG: Lillard, NSmith SG: Matthews, EWilliams, Barton SF: Batum, Claver PF: Aldridge, Hickson, Babbitt, Freeland C: Leonard That's 12. Who else? Jeffries? Przybilla? Gadzuric? Am I blanking it on anyone? Adding a veteran PG and a servicable center would seem like a good idea... Ed O.
I'm very excited too. Lillard looks like the type of player that makes everyone else better and I'm really looking forward to that. I think LaMarcus is going to love having Leonard alongside him on defense too.
I think it will go Lillard/Vet (i.e. Fisher)/Smith Matthews/Williams/Barton Batum/Babbitt/Claver/Jeffries Aldridge/Freeland Hickson/Leonard/Vet (i.e. Joel) That is 15
I'm definitely excited as well. Lot's of young guys with potential. I'm most excited about Lillard and Leonard. I'd also add Freeland in the mix. I will be nervous to see how Batum handles the contract and if he continues to improve.
It's still an incredibly weak roster. It might be good 2 or 3 years down the road. That said, I really like our draft picks and really hoping Freeland & Claver can play NBA ball.
I'd add Joel P. and a veteran combo guard and leave Barton and Freeland inactive until they can prove they are keepers. This group will sink or swim depending on the quality of our eventual coach.
I think we're probably going to suck a little bit next year and maybe the year after that, but I agree that the future could be bright if Lillard and Leonard develop ... they seem like they've got a decent shot.
I'm excited to see E. Will with playing time. I still think this kid has huge potential to be a great player. I haven't seen Lillard yet, so I can't have an opinion on that one. I am really excited we were able to obtain Hickson. I think he is the perfect back-up or third wing big on this team. He is probably going to get a good 25+ minutes a game playing PF/C. That's really going to help Aldridge's legs.
Count me as being excited too. There's a lot of potential with these guys, and I like that our star player is a little older than all of them (so will command some respect) but not so old that he's outside of their window. There's a lot of youth, but it's 23-year-old "should produce results this year" youth and not 19-year-old "maybe someday" youth. I like what I see in Lillard and Leonard. Assuming we re-sign Batum I think we're in the playoffs this year. Lillard is going to come in this year and get 16pts/6 assists, which combined with a great Aldridge year, Batum justifying his contract, and a nice rotation of energetic bigs is enough to get us a 7 or 8 seed and in position for bigger strides. I'd rather steer clear of a role playing vet center if we can. Aldridge is going to need 35-38 mpg. Then you've got Freeland, Hickson and Leonard who all need to see minutes this year, and I just don't see the point in adding a Juwan Howard-type (unless injuries to these guys really require it). Definitely need to add a Derek Fisher-type veteran (or two) at PG.
I think this is the most accurate, with a lot of blurring/overlapping of position for Freeland and Hickson.
I hope that the team is a bit more aggressive with the PG and C spots this week, but... I think you might be right. A Hickson/Aldridge 5/4 combination isn't the best, I don't think, and it would be nice to have someone to man the 5 spot with Hickson backing up Aldridge at the 4. Ed O.
I'm hoping we get the chance next summer to land Cody Zeller -- This would be a very quick (total) rebuild with the pieces currently in place.
We'll see how things shake out, but I have a feeling they might be in the market for a veteran with whatever pick(s) they go into the lottery with. I suspect shooting guard and center are still going to be on their wish-list.
I agree - I'm by no means thinking mistaking the Blazers for a contender, but I really do believe they still have the makings of a playoff team.
A very difficult part of building a roster is adding an All-NBAish player. Portland has one who will be entering his prime. Even more difficult is finding an MVP-level player, and with Portland, that's going to mean getting lucky in the draft, because no MVP-level FA is going to sign with the Blazers.
Leonard is probably that guy. I would assume that minus foul trouble and injury, our minutes roation looks something like this on opening night Lillard - 36 Matthews - 30 Batum - 36 Aldridge - 36 Hickson - 26 Williams -15 Leonard - 26 Freeland - 12 Claver - 12 Babbitt - 0 Smith - 5 Vet PG 8 Vet C Barton Jeffries
a long shot to make the playoffs certainly, but 'incredibly weak' undersells LMA. as long as he is healthy we aren't going to be bobcats west or anything.