It has been a quiet offseason for the Portland Trail Blazers after their powerful playoff run. Many of the issues for the team involve keeping their stars intact. The biggest being LaMarcus Aldridge who reportedly agreed to a contract extension on July 8th, though he will not sign the extension until next year.
While Portland has not had the cap room nor the roster space to be active in what has been a tumultuous signing period, there are several observations about the future of the team.
1) C.J. McCollum has been on fire in the Summer League
The Blazers hoped that McCollum, their first-round pick in the 2013 Draft, would be a long-term starter at the shooting guard position. Injuries slowed his development in his first season in the Rose City, and limited the 6’4 guard to just 5.3 points in his rookie campaign.
McCollum came into the Summer League looking to impress, and he has done that and more. He scored at least 16 points in every game, dropping 21 against Utah in a 75-73 loss on July 18th. His mid-range shooting impressed everyone, and he looks to be a solid contributor off the bench for Portland this season.
2) Meyers Leonard may be on his way out
Leonard needed to show some season to keep him around during the Summer League, considering his slow start to his NBA career. With free agent acquisition Chris Kaman joining Robin Lopez, Joel Freeland and Leonard at a crowded center position, something has to give.
That something might be Leonard, who missed much of the Summer League action with a shoulder injury. Considering how slowly he has adjusted to the NBA, he needed this time to work on his defensive game. Now he may be the odd man out on the roster.
3) Thomas Robinson’s injury, and what it means for the Blazers depth
Robinson suffered a thumb injury against Atlanta last Tuesday, and team doctors fear that he tore a ligament. Robinson is looking for a second opinion to opt against surgery, which would keep him sidelined for 6-8 weeks.
If Robinson is out for a prolonged period, the Blazers may look into options at the forward position. One name that would fit well into coach Terry Stotts’ system is former Clipper and Pelican Al Farouq-Aminu. The 6’9 Aminu is a strong rebounder and defender, and has the ability to score in limited bursts, giving the Blazers a great stopper off the bench when Aldridge needs rest.
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