2006 NBA Preview: The Portland Trailblazers

When a team is termed the “Jailblazers” or the “Trail Gangsters” by national sports analysts, you know their performance on the court is sub par. The Portland Trailblazers have had off the court problems for the last few seasons and with only 21 wins in 2005 (the worst in the NBA), coach Nate McMillan and company needed some new faces. The Portland front office did their job, making half a dozen trades in the opening hour of the 2006 NBA Draft and acquiring some extraordinary talent. The Blazers got center LaMarcus Aldridge with the second overall pick, giving them a big body in the middle to accompany Joel Przybilla and Zach Randolph in the paint. Guards Brandon Roy and Sergio Rodriguez give them some talent in the back court and center Joel Freeland will figure into the team’s long term plans. Things are looking up in the Pacific Northwest and Portland needs for this rebuilding season to not only yield more wins on the court but more fans to come back to the floundering franchise.

Front Court
Center Joel Przybilla is a solid shot blocker, rebounder, and defender, giving the Blazers a nice presence in the middle. Alongside Przybilla is forward Zach Randolph, who has a big contract, a bigger ego, and enough talent to make plays to compliment Przybilla’s style. However, McMillan is going to work as hard as he can to get rookie center LaMarcus Aldridge ready for the rigors of everyday NBA play so that he can split starts and minutes with Randolph. If Aldridge proves he is ready early on, Randolph will be out of Portland and McMillan will be happy with whatever the front office can get for him. Expect a platoon of small forwards to include Raef LaFrentz, Martell Webster, Darius Miles, and Randolph when Aldridge is ready to go.

Back Court
The shooting guard position seems set with Brandon Roy, who should crack the starting lineup right away in Portland. Roy is well rounded, can shoot the ball, and is serviceable on defense. His most impressive attribute, however, is his work ethic, which could spark some life in the listless Blazers franchise. At point guard, McMillan needs to find one consistent starter at the point and stick with them throughout the season. The problem may be that no one contender for the position has the all-around skills to stand out. In that case, the best choice will be Jarret Jack, who acquitted himself well as a play maker in his rookie season last year. If Jack falters for any reason, they have a couple guards off the bench who can fill in temporarily. This may be the weakest position on the Blazers and if they deal Randolph, expect them to try and package in a quality point guard in return.

Bench
The bench is full of underachieving talent and younger guys trying to prove themselves on a rebuilding team. Darius Miles needs to stay off the injured list and if his points per game continue to improve, he will become an invaluable component to the Blazers off the bench. Several guards will be rotating in at the point guard position, including newly acquired Juan Dixon, shooting point Dan Dickau, and rookie Sergio Rodriguez. The front court reserves include Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw, who need to prove their worth on a Portland team looking to cut salaries and bring in new blood. Either one could be dealt by mid season, especially with a potential Zach Randolph trade in the works. Miles and Juan Dixon will compete for the team’s sixth man position, with the versatile Miles the clear frontrunner.

Intangibles
Nate McMillan brings the same hard-nosed approach to coaching as he did as a point guard in the NBA. McMillan had problems last season, notably with overpriced and temperamental players like Zach Randolph. However, Randolph is on a short leash as the Blazers try to reshape their image. LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy will contribute on the floor in their rookie seasons and are amiable guys off the court, giving the financially woeful Blazers some hope that they can reconnect with the community. The Blazers won’t get into the playoffs this season but they will field a more competitive team in 2006 and need to win early to get more fans in the seats.

2006 NBA Projection
While the Portland Trailblazers will be an improved team in 2006, that is only improvement relative to their abysmal 2005 campaign. McMillan finally has some talent that will listen to him, Portland fans will start to come back to see their rejuvenated team, and players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy will give the city of Portland something to cheer about. After a 21 win campaign last season, look for 30-32 and a better attendance record in 2006.