I feel bad for the Portland Trailblazers. Every year they are considered one of the league’s rising teams but somehow have their lofty NBA Title aspirations shattered by some untimely injury to star players. Over the past 3 seasons, Portland has averaged 51 wins per season but has yet to make it out of the 1st Round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
Blazers management even swung a late season deal for longtime Bobcats star Gerald Wallace, but it was for naught after yet another 1st Round exit at the hands of the NBA Finals bound Dallas Mavericks.
After yet another season ending injury to supposed franchise savior Greg Oden and after learning that leading scorer Brandon Roy’s injured knees may never again allow him to regain All Star status, maybe it’s time that ownership goes in another direction concerning which players to build around?
They certainly do have 2 young studs in LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum at PF and SF to rebuild with. The franchise does have a big decision as to whether to offer a contract to the oft injured Oden as the center of the future and Roy can still play at an above average level, albeit in a different role than we are accustomed to. Wes Mathews has been a pleasant surprise to everyone over the past two seasons, but what about point guard?
The very un-athletic and at times overly opinionated Andre Miller just turned 35 and averaged just 12.7 ppg to go along with 7 assists, easily his lowest scoring output since his rookie season in Cleveland. Although he’s not flashy, he always gets the job done with the right pass, just not of the highlight reel variety. But after 12 seasons and nearly 1,000 games played, one has to wonder where Dre fits in with the team’s future plans?
It’s no secret that they covet a young floor general in the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft, but being that their highest pick is the 21st selection, they ideally have no chance at landing one of the top ranked, game-changing point guards like Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, or Kemba Walker. Based on our projections ranking the Top 10 PG in this year’s draft, only Cleveland State’s Norris Cole, Michigan’s Darius Morris, or Kansas’ Josh Selby should still be available. All three are considered complimentary or project type players.
There’s a recent internet rumor that the Blazers are very interested in former UConn standout Kemba Walker. With Walker considered an absolute lock for the Lottery in our latest Mock Draft, the Blazers will have to get creative to land the Huskies high scoring, lighting quick floor general.
What has been reported is that Portland is willing to send Andre Miller along with their 21st pick for another team’s player and a Top 7 pick in this year’s Draft. Adding the super fast Walker to an up-and-coming young line-up may be the right choice for acting GM Chad Buchanan considering Brandon Roy may never again be the same player.
What’s your opinion? Should the Blazers package serviceable veteran Andre Miller and the 21st pick for a shot at Connecticut’s Kemba Walker?
Check out Kemba Walker’s ‘10-’11 Season Mixtape:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
