Where do the Blazers rank in the Northwest right now and where will they rank in five years or so? <div> </div><div>Now that KG has been traded to Boston, Minnesota won't do anything this year but, Jefferson,Green,Gomes,Telfair and Ratliff sets them up for a pretty decent future. A three guard rotation of Telfair, Foye and McCants will do for now and there are some good PGs in the next draft, at least one of Brewer,GreenorGomes will be a good SF and Jefferson is already a pretty good PF, they just need a C. If they can find enough cap space to sign a free agent C or PG next offseason, they can use their top draft pick on one or the good PGs in the draft or Hibbert if they think they will have better luck going after a PG in free agency instead of a C.<div> </div><div>The Sonics more or less traded Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis for Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. The talent is comparable, but they probably will be hurt by the lack of experience, as we as by the refs, in the next few years. I really liked Swift before he was hurt for all of last season and I think Ridnour and Collison can both be decent in the future, but those last two are the players most likely to be replaced in the next few years.</div><div> </div><div>We all know about the young players of the Blazers. They might be the team built for the future with the best chance to make a little noise now with the ROY, another very good second year player in Aldridge and Oden as a rookie. I love Sergio Rodriguez, Our starting PG from last season has only been in the NBA for two years and we just drafted two more PGs, one who learned how to win on the back to back defending NCAA champions and another who will probably stay in Finland but sounds like he will be really good when we do get him on the Blazers. Up front, we have Oden and Aldridge, and Frye and McRoberts to back them up. Our weakness is still SF, both Webster and Outlaw have shown flashes, but that's all. If one of them finally becomes consistent and the other players develop as they should, I love our future and we could surprise some people right now.</div><div> </div><div>Of the two teams built to try to win now, Utah is in the best shape for the Future. They have an all-star from last season in Okur, I think AK-47 can still be a very good player if he is used right, and Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer will help them defend their division title and give them a great start in their rebuilding when the time comes.</div><div> </div><div>Denver has two great players in Anthony and Iverson, and not much else. Camby, Martin and Nene are decent up front, but they can't count on them staying healthy. Anthony and Iverson can carry them far enough to keep them from getting good draft picks, but I don't know how far they can go, they should try to do everything they can to win while they have those two players though. I don't see how trading for young players who won't be able to help them for several years does them much good. They're built to win now, so they better do it.</div></div>
Here's how I rank the division...</p> 1. Utah-Basically returning their enitre WCF team minus Derek Fisher.</p> 2. Denver-Melo and AI are an exciting combo, but I don't see this team as a contender. Even if KMart, Nene, and Camby are healthy, I'd put them behind San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, and Utah.</p> 3. Portland-Boy do they have one hell of a future with Roy, Aldridge, and Oden. They will compete for a spot in the playoffs this year and eventually the division as the young players develop further.</p> 4. Minnesota-They have a nice foundation for the future with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson, who are going to have to take their games to the next level in order to prevent the Timberpups from staying in the cellar of the conference.</p> 5. Seattle-There are alot of questions about this team. Is Durant going to live up to the hype? Is Jeff Green going to struggle?CanRobert Swift come back? Is Ridinour going to be gone? Who's going to start at C? This team might not finish last in the division/conference, but don't be suprised if they do.</p>
Minny is not in that good a shape, they are still carrying a lot of bad contracts and McHale is still running the show.</p> Denver just has had luck so far, if Nene, Camby, KMart happen to stay healthy for a full season they could win the west.</p> Seattle well I have no idea what they are doing, wait and see there.</p> Portland is still 3-4 years away from contening and even the playoffs. Lets not forget, nothing ever goes as planned.</p> Utah - You can't say enough about them. Portland/Utah battles are going to be intense. </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'> Here's how I rank the division...</p> 1. Utah-Basically returning their enitre WCF team minus Derek Fisher.</p> 2. Denver-Melo and AI are an exciting combo, but I don't see this team as a contender. Even if KMart, Nene, and Camby are healthy, I'd put them behind San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, and Utah.</p> 3. Portland-Boy do they have one hell of a future with Roy, Aldridge, and Oden. They will compete for a spot in the playoffs this year and eventually the division as the young players develop further.</p> 4. Minnesota-They have a nice foundation for the future with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson, who are going to have to take their games to the next level in order to prevent the Timberpups from staying in the cellar of the conference.</p> 5. Seattle-There are alot of questions about this team. Is Durant going to live up to the hype? Is Jeff Green going to struggle? Can Robert Swift come back? Is Ridinour going to be gone? Who's going to start at C? This team might not finish last in the division/conference, but don't be suprised if they do.</p> </div></p> </p> That's pretty much how I would rank them also...</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrpy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Real)</div><div class='quotemain'> Here's how I rank the division...</p> 1. Utah-Basically returning their enitre WCF team minus Derek Fisher.</p> 2. Denver-Melo and AI are an exciting combo, but I don't see this team as a contender. Even if KMart, Nene, and Camby are healthy, I'd put them behind San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, and Utah.</p> 3. Portland-Boy do they have one hell of a future with Roy, Aldridge, and Oden. They will compete for a spot in the playoffs this year and eventually the division as the young players develop further.</p> 4. Minnesota-They have a nice foundation for the future with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson, who are going to have to take their games to the next level in order to prevent the Timberpups from staying in the cellar of the conference.</p> 5. Seattle-There are alot of questions about this team. Is Durant going to live up to the hype? Is Jeff Green going to struggle? Can Robert Swift come back? Is Ridinour going to be gone? Who's going to start at C? This team might not finish last in the division/conference, but don't be suprised if they do.</p> </div></p> </p> That's pretty much how I would rank them also...</p> </div></p> </p> Iftheirbigmenstayfairlyhealthy,ImightputDenveraboveUtahfornow,butIcan'tseethemstayingoutofthecellarmuchpast2010.</p> </p>
