Where do I start with this? It's really been a train wreck for the Trail Blazers this off season and to be completely honest, I don't see Portland getting back to the top of the Northwest division anytime soon. Losing Lamarcus Aldridge to the Spurs, Matthews to the Mavs, Afflalo and Lopez to the Knicks, as well as the questionable trade of Nicolas Batum to the Hornets mid-season brings what was once a young upcoming squad back down to one of the worst teams in the league. The Trail Blazers have only managed to give Damian Lillard a huge contract extension worth $120.5M for 5 years, which is risky yet appropriate considering the constant growth that Lillard has had during his first 3 years in the league. There are, however, quite a few positives that can be dragged out of this whole debacle.
While losing Lemarcus Aldridge to San Antonio isn't exactly the most ideal situation for Rip City, having players like C.J McCollum and Meyers Leonard may help soften the blow and help in the rebuilding process. First off, C.J.'s performance in the second half of the Grizzlies-Blazers series was probably the biggest leap in performance that I saw in the playoffs this year. McCollum averaged 25.6 points and 4 rebounds in the last three games of the series while also shooting at an impressive 61% from the field. He showed his ability to score at a very efficient level against one of the best defensive teams in league to boot. It would be very hard to call this a fluke. There's a lot riding on the 23 year-old guard next season with the expectation of having more great performances this upcoming season. It's very likely that his minutes will stay above 30 next season which will give him a much better opportunity to develop when compared to the constantly fluctuating minutes he was given last season. The sky is the limit for this young player.
The other young player that has the opportunity to have a solid season is Meyers Leonard. This 7'1'' center also made improvements during the playoffs against the Grizzlies. And while it might not have been as big of an impact as C.J.'s performance, putting up 7.8 points and 6.6 rebounds (An improvement from 5.9 and 4.5 during the season) while scoring at 67% from the field and 76% from the 3 shows what a threat a player that didn't even shoot over 5 shots per game in the first round is capable of being. With a starting position next year, expect this young man to grow immensely now that he's climbed up the food chain for this organization. The ability to score effectively all around the court will make him a very tough match up for a lot of teams next year. Having lost a couple veteran big men to compete against will almost ensure that scoring will not be the only aspect of his game with potential to grow, which will give him space to prove his worth as a starter to the organization.
Lastly, the acquisitions of Mike Miller ($2.8M, acquired in trade) and Al-Farouq Aminu (4yrs/ 30M) aren't too shabby either. Two solid picks ups that will give you what's expected of them on the court without breaking the bank are just what this team needs at the moment. Miller's shooting ability to shoot from outside is obvious and Aminu does a bit of everything without really excelling in anything. Overall, the Blazers are still in a deep hole. But with their combination of young blooming players and veteran skill will prove worth it in the future if all works in their favor. Keep your head up Portland.
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