2007 Portland Trail Blazers NBA Season Preview
There is much to be excited about in Portland as Greg Oden, the 2007 NBA Draft's top pick, comes to town. At 7-0 and about 255lbs, Oden has the strength, explosiveness and athleticism of a great NBA center. Yet, fans should be cautioned. While Oden resembles a young Patrick Ewing, he still has much growing to do. His offense is unpolished and he's only 19 years old. Fans seem to be elevating their expectations for Oden's rookie season to unrealistic heights. Don't expect a 20-10 guy right off the bat. Unfortunately for Oden, anything less will be considered disappointing.
The Blazers will be led by 2007 Rookie of the Year, Brandon Roy next season, who averaged 16.8 ppg, 4.4 rbpg and 4.0 apg in 57 games last season. Roy's versatility and leadership makes him a star in the making and the ideal leader for this team.
Expect a breakout season for power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. In his rookie campaign last season, he averaged 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rbpg in just 22 minutes playing behind Zach Randolph. With Randolph gone and Oden more of a defensive force at this stage in his career, expect Aldridge to carry more of the offensive load in the paint.
The Blazers are young, but they are talented. They have the potential to do a lot of great things, but still might be two-to-three seasons from being a major competitor in the NBA.
Statistics Projections/Depth Chart
- Center: Greg Oden 11.3 ppg, 9.6 rbpg, 2.8 bspg (back up: Joel Przybilla)
- Power Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge 14.5 ppg, 7.2 rbpg (back up: Channing Frye)
- Small Forward: Martell Webster 9.1 ppg, 3.1 rbpg (back up: Travis Outlaw)
- Point Guard: Steve Blake 7.0 ppg, 5.5 apg (back up: Sergio Rodriguez)
- Shooting Guard: Brandon Roy 19.9 ppg, 5.1 rbpg, 4.2 apg (back up: Jarrett Jack)
Key Losses
The Blazers traded star forward Zach Randolph to the New York Knicks for a package that included Channing Frye and Steve Francis. They immediately waived Francis. The deal was made to clear cap room, rid the squad of "bad apples" and make room for Aldridge. However, this is a long-term gain more than it is a short-term one. Randolph averaged a team-high 23.7 ppg, 10.1 rbpg and replacing those numbers won't come easily. He also took about seven trips to the line each night and made over 80% of his foul shots. There aren't many players in the league who can boast about that.
Key Additions
Channing Frye probably will never be a star in the league, but he is a solid back up. At seven-feet, he has the length coveted by many NBA teams. He also has a solid jumper. The Blazers also added a slew of point guards, including Steve Blake and Taurean Green. Oh, and they also added some guy named Greg Oden.
Team Rumors
No rumors to note.
Prediction
Despite what many fans think, the Blazers will not make the playoffs next season. However, they will improve to a record of 37-45, which is five more wins than they had last season. Adding Oden will certainly help their defense, but losing Randolph hurts a little, too. Also, they're very young. Give them a bit more time.
Fantasy Spin
Drafting players on the Blazers roster for your fantasy team can be tricky. Greg Oden will likely go way too high in most of your leagues, as there is bound to be a fantasy team owner or two who loves the overhyped players. But, rookies tend to need a season or two before they realize their true fantasy potential. Oden will certainly experience some growing pains this season and the question is how high of a draft pick do you want to waste enduring those growing pains.
On the other hand, Brandon Roy seems like a prime candidate to become a great fantasy contributor. Health will be a big question mark for him, but with his versatile game he should be able to make big fantasy impacts. Consider him between picks 35-50.
In addition, LaMarcus Aldridge could be a nice late-round steal. He's in great position to have a breakout year.
NBA Eastern Conference Team Previews: Atlanta Hawks; Boston Celtics; Cleveland Cavaliers; Chicago Bulls; Charlotte Bobcats; Detroit Pistons; Indiana Pacers; Miami Heat; Milwaukee Bucks; New Jersey Nets; New York Knicks; Orlando Magic; Philadelphia 76ers; Toronto Raptors; Washington Wizards
NBA Western Conference Team Previews: Dallas Mavericks; Denver Nuggets; Golden State Warriors; Houston Rockets; Los Angeles Clippers; Los Angeles Lakers; Memphis Grizzlies; Minnesota Timberwolves; New Orleans Hornets; Phoenix Suns; Portland Trail Blazers; Sacramento Kings; San Antonio Spurs; Seattle Supersonics; Utah Jazz
