The first of a 30 part series, where each team will be broken down in order to find how to improve their team during the off-season. Team strengths, team weaknesses, draft picks , propsed trades, free-agent signings, and releases will all be put in place in order to improve the team. If teams have vacant front office positions as of the time of the article, that will be covered as well. It will go by order of the draft.
So with that we start off with the Portland Trail Blazers, owners of the coveted #1 overall selection in the draft...
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Portland Trailblazers
Owner: Paul Allen
General Manager: Kevin Pritchard
Coach: Nate McMillan
Impending Free Agents: Jamaal Magloire, Ime Udoka (RFA), Travis Outlaw (RFA)
Draft Position: 1
Strengths: Owning the #1 overall selection is a strength in itself, as it likely contains the right to add Greg Oden to the team. Drafting Oden will give Portland one of the top frontlines in the league for the next 10 years, made of sophomre LaMarcus Aldridge and the rookie, Oden. With the addition on Oden, Joel Pryzbilla will likely move to the bench and become one of the better big men to come off the bench in the league. Pryzbilla is an intimidating defensive force, which also makes him subject to trade rumors because he compares to Oden in that way. It is likely that Pryzbilla will also want to find a starting job, as he now has no future in the plans of Kevin Pritchard and Nate McMillan. Trading Pryzbilla can bring in a capable starting small forward, depending on whether Martell Webster wakes up and starts playing up to his potential. Or Pryzbilla can be swung for a guard to team up with Jarrett Jack at point guard and another center to fill in as the backup for Oden. Jack was a smart move a couple years ago, and should be able to deliver the ball to Brandon Roy, Oden, and Aldridge the entire season. The Blazers are building an elite NBA team right now, one that has a lot of depth with Fred Jones, Ime Udoka, Travis Outlaw, Raef LaFrentz, and Webster. Zach Randolph, like Pryzbilla, likely will be dealt to future draft picks or that point guard to team up with Jack. The Blazers will be stacked after the addition of Oden, as he brings so many opprotunites to improve the Blazers through trades and signings. Definately a new era will begin in Portland when David Stern announces the first pick on June 28th, the future looks very bright for the Portland Trail Blazers. Now they just need to figure out to do with Darius Miles, the last of the Jail Blazers.
Weaknesses: Having one of the brightest, young, and exciting teams in the league now, it is hard to find a weak spot on the team. With Oden, Portland will be stacked at center more than any other team in the league, same as power forward because of Aldridge moving over. When they trade Pryzbilla and Zach Randolph they will likely fill the small hole at small forward, and find a better backup for Jarrett Jack than Dan Dickau. Brandon Roy has a good backup in Fred Jones, and McMillan will also look into giving more playing time to 2006 draftee Sergio Rodriguez. The only two problems that could (will) arise for the Trail Blazers are leadership and youth. Both will be quickly filled as the season goes along. Brandon Roy was one of the better leaders in the country playing for Washington. Soon, experience should come easily and quickly because of the talent level of the young players. Aldridge could be an up-and-down player, but he averaged 14.7 points and 8 rebounds in March before going down to injury in April. Advantage for Portland though is that if the big men struggle, they can run the offense through Roy.
Draft Targets:
Round 1, Pick 1: Greg Oden, C, Ohio State
Round 2, Pick 7: Taurean Green, PG, Florida
Round 2, Pick 22: Sun Yue, G, China
Round 2, Pick 23: Jared Dudley, F, Boston College
The #1 selection is easy, and the Blazers will have to wait awhile before making the next selection at #37. If Green is still there, he will give them a guard they can develop into a future starter, much like Cleveland is doing with Daniel Gibson. Sun Yue is a 6' 9" guard who can play the point as well, according to many draft sites. He gives them to opprotunity to leave him over in China for a few years, before deciding if the want to bring him over to Portland. He is a major potential pick, and he leaves a roster spot if Joel Freeland is brought over from England. Jared Dudley is a potential pick as well, as he could develop into a solid backup forward. He would be brought in for his leadership ability as well, since he lead a troubled Boston College team for the past two seasons to the NCAA tournament. The chances of him making the team though would be how he compares with undrafted rookie Luke Schenscher, and if Portland decides what year they want to bring Freeland over, who will definately have a guranteed roster spot. With Aldridge being moved over, he could be traded for a future pick because his potential is so high.
Potential Trades
Trade #1
Portland Recives: Anderson Varejao (Sign and Trade) and Donyell Marshall
Cleveland Recives: Zach Randolph and Dan Dickau
Trade #1 Breakdown: This trade would be a plus for both teams, big time. Cleveland gets a much needed #2 scorer behind Lebron, who also rebounds in order to replace the loss of Varejao. Randolph would florish playing with LeBron, averaging the same stats as before. This would allow Drew Gooden to become one of the better 6th man in the league, more in line for his productivity instead of a starter. Dickau has no future in Portland, and will be a filler in the deal to shed salary. Portland would be able to add a backup in Varejao for Aldridge, someone who can rebound and provide intensity off the bench. Varejao could also fill in for Oden if LaFrentz struggles or suffers an injury. Donyell Marshall could become the veteran forward that can teach Webster how to develop into a productive NBA small forward, and somebody who can hit a key shot at the end of games.
Trade #2
Portland Recives: 2008 1st Round Pick (Lottery Protected)
Washington Recieves: Joel Pryzbilla
Trade #2 Breakdown: This will be an easy move for both teams, and makes perfect since for both. Washington needs a center since the heavyweight fight between Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas ended with the season. Haywood is likely gone, which leaves a hole at center for the Wizards. Washington doesn't need somebody who can score, they have Arenas, Butler, and Jamison to handle that. Pryzbilla is an ideal fit for Washington as he is a legit defensive NBA center who can make big defensive plays and rebound. Should they give him 25 minutes, he will give the Wizards 7 points, 10 rebounds, and almost 3 blocks per game. Portland has a jam at center with the addition of Oden, and can get yet another top talent or trade chip for next year.
Free Agent Targets:
Rashard Lewis, F, Seattle
Gerald Wallace, F, Charlotte
Earl Boykins, G, Milwaukee
Portland could (and should) save their big salary cap space by spending in a better 2008 class. Resigning Travis Outlaw to a 3 yr. deal and Ime Udoka to a 2 yr. deal would be the best fit, but the sexy move of adding Lewis and Wallace could be too much to resist. Wallace makes more sense then Lewis, as he would be more inclined to take less touches from Roy and Oden. Wallace also offers extreme athleticism and solid shooting. Lewis would demand to be the #1 option, something the Blazers are looking to do with Roy or Oden. Adding either would be big for the Blazers, but adding Wallace would likely be better for the future. Earl Boykins could become the PG off the bench to provide instant offense and can help mentor Jack and Green. Boykins is likely asking out of Portland's price range though for what they view him as though. Most likely is they re-sign Outlaw and Udoka, who was a pleasant suprise shooter last season.
Releases:
If Portland trades for Marshall or signs Wallace, it likely spells the end of Darius Miles in Portland. He is likely to be released because he is the bad attitude that McMillan wants to get rid of in Portland. The two constantly feuded last year, and Miles still didn't live up to his basketball potential. Portland will have a hard time trading Miles because of his salary, attitude, and skills. Miles will be released and his stay in Portland will end after three tumoltuous seasons.
Final Roster:
1. LaMarcus Aldridge (F)
2. Jared Dudley (F)
3. Taurean Green (G)
4. Jarrett Jack (G)
5. Raef LaFrentz (F/C)
6. Donyell Marshall (F)
7. Greg Oden (C)
8. Travis Outlaw (F)
9. Sergio Rodriguez (G)
10. Brandon Roy (G)
11. Ime Udoka (F/G)
12. Anderson Varejao (F/C)
13. Martell Webster (F)
14. Joel Freeland* (F)
Starting 5:
Point Guard: Jarrett Jack
Shooting Guard: Brandon Roy
Small Forward: Travis Outlaw
Power Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Center: Greg Oden
Final Grade: B
Portland definately has the team of the future, and immediately their starting 5 is enough to get them to the second round of the Playoffs. The only challenges this Trail Blazer team could have is lack of experience and leadership. But Roy figures to take over and become the leader of the team, which he will be for a long time. Blazers will start out slow, but pick up fast and become one of the hottest teams in the league.
*Should Portland decided to bring over from England
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05-27-2007 01:05 AM 
