Trail Blazers offseason recap: Big bucks help keep young core intact
With the bulk of NBA free agency in the books, Paste BN Sports explores how all the offseason moves will alter each team as we look ahead to the 2016-17 season.
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Projected starting five: Portland Trail Blazers
(Statistics from 2015-16 season)
- Damian Lillard - Points: 25.1, assists: 6.8, rebounds: 4.0, steals: 0.9, field goal percentage: 41.9%
- C.J. McCollum - Points: 20.8, rebounds: 3.2, assists: 4.3, steals: 1.2, field goal percentage: 44.8%
- Evan Turner (with Boston) - Points: 10.5, rebounds: 4.9, assists: 4.4, steals: 1.0, field goal percentage: 45.6%
- Al-Farouq Aminu - Point: 10.2, rebounds: 6.1, assists: 1.7, steals: 0.9, field goal percentage: 41.6%
- Mason Plumlee - Points: 9.1, rebounds: 7.7, assists: 2.8, blocks: 1.0, field goal percentage: 51.6%
Added - Turner, Festus Ezeli, Shabazz Napier, Jake Layman, Allen Crabbe (re-signed), Maurice Harkless (re-signed), Meyers Leonard (re-signed), McCollum (signed extension)
Lost - Gerald Henderson, Brian Roberts, Chris Kaman (unsigned)
Biggest acquisition - Crabbe
With their sights set on building around their young core, the Blazers had no choice but to match the four-year, $75 million offer the Brooklyn Nets threw at Crabbe. Albeit a hefty price tag even in today's market, the 24-year-old is coming off a career year (10.3 points on 45.9% shooting) as a three-and-D guy off the bench, so this could turn out to be a smart long-term investment.
Biggest departure - Henderson
With the big bucks the Blazers handed their young prospects this offseason — Crabbe, Harkless (four years, $40 million) and Leonard (four years, $41 million) — a veteran role player such as Henderson wasn't exactly a hot commodity. He was a solid contributor with the second unit last season (8.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 19.9 minutes), but the fact that he was Portland's biggest loss is a win in itself.
X factor - McCollum
An unproven bench player with just three career starts a year ago, the 24-year-old McCollum burst onto the scene as one of the league's top shooting guards last season and was the deserving recipient of the NBA's Most Improved Player award. He was compensated accordingly this summer with a four-year, $106 million extension, so now — with the expectations high and the spotlight on him to be the future of the franchise alongside Lillard — it's crucial that McCollum continues his ascent to All-Star status.
Offseason grade - B+
Check out our other offseason recaps: Atlanta • Boston • Brooklyn • Charlotte • Chicago • Cleveland • Dallas • Denver • Detroit • Golden State • Houston• Indiana • L.A. Clippers • L.A. Lakers • Memphis • Miami • Milwaukee • Minnesota • New Orleans • New York • Oklahoma City • Orlando • Philadelphia • Phoenix
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