Exploring Chris Kaman

The Portland Trail Blazers open their 2014-2015 season on October 29 and Rip City is hoping to see the team build on last year’s 54-win season and second round playoff appearance. Much of the discussion is centered on the development of the bench, which was practically invisible last year unless you count ex-Blazer Mo Williams chucking off-the-dribble shots every time he touched the ball. The starters needed help so GM Neil Olshey shopped the market and the season begins with Chris Kaman and Steve Blake as the sixth and seventh best players on the team. Analysts and fans alike are underwhelmed by these signings and that’s understandable. Will the Trail Blazers be able to repeat their breakout season with an even more deadly Western Conference than last year? Fans know what they will get from the consistent and competitive Blake but let’s take a closer look at the key addition of Kaman.

I first noticed Kaman because of his odd hairstyle. At times hideous and other moments worse, he’s now cleaned up and looks like he would fit in drinking IPAs at your local Portland brewery. His off-season adventures of firing assault rifles and attempting to catch blue marlins have endeared many Blazer fans. Portland has embraced his “weirdness” with open arms, similar to the way they celebrated self-professed “giant nerd” Robin Lopez. In terms of character, he fits.

However, Robin Lopez’s popularity only came from results on the court. Without his paint presence and rim protection, fans don’t care how much he knows about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Chris Kaman will receive the same treatment. If he delivers twelve points and six rebounds a game off the bench, he will become a fan favorite. If not, fans will ignore his quirks, call out Olshey, and be forced to watch Meyers Leonard continue his disappointing career of boneheaded plays even though he is a seven foot physical specimen who can shoot from anywhere on the court. If Kaman doesn’t pan out, Joel Freeland will step up to be the consistent presence of the second unit but hopefully it doesn’t come to this.

If preseason is any indication of success, Kaman is up to the job. In about 20 minutes per game, he has sunk open midrange jumpers as well as used nifty post moves that he has honed over his long career. In short, the 32 year old is playing like a dependable veteran. He spent eight years as a Los Angeles Clipper, holding his own against other starting centers. During one season, he averaged nearly 13 rebounds a game and, two years later, he surprisingly made an All-Star Game (albeit, as a replacement). This season, he will be matched up with other back-up centers. Instead of having to score on the Dwight Howards and Andrew Boguts, he can feast on Matt Bonner, J. J. Hickson, and other names only die-hard fans recognize.

Here’s my prediction: Kaman can do all this. He can be the eccentric backup center to the goofy starter that Portland deserves. He can score enough points to stop analysts from trashing the Blazer bench. Yet, I’m still concerned. Last year, Kaman played 39 games. That’s not very many games and it gets worse. Out of 312 possible games played during the last four years, he’s missed 128 of them. Kaman isn’t getting any younger. This could be his last chance as a relevant basketball player and it all depends on health. I’m not sure if he ever caught the elusive blue marlin last summer but I sure hope he can catch a spot in Portland.