2014-2015 in Review
A 51-31 finish coupled with a Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City Thunder team gave the Blazers an open lane for a first place finish in the Northwest Division, their first division title since the 1998-1999 season. But unlike the '98-'99 Blazers, Rip City was unable to make the Western Conference Finals in 2014-2015.
In fact, they were ousted from the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies in five games and have not appeared in the Conference Finals since the 1999-2000 season. A roster that seemingly had the winning formula the past couple of seasons was broken up this summer and will have a completely new look in 2015-2016.
New Additions
Gerald Henderson
Henderson was brought over in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets that included Noah Vonleh in exchange for wingman, Nicolas Batum. In his sixth year in the NBA, Henderson averaged 12.1 points-per-game with the Hornets. However, his scoring average has decreased along with his minutes over the past several seasons.
Henderson has never averaged more than 16.0 points-per-game, but has the ability to score in the upper-twenties and even low thirties on any given night. He may not be a jaw-dropping addition to the Blazers' lineup, but Henderson will work well alongside point guard Damian Lillard as a primary scorer.
Mason Plumlee
Acquired in a trade that sent backup point guard, Steve Blake, to the Brooklyn Nets and also involved several 2015 draft picks, Plumlee joins Portland as the starting center. Entering his third year in the NBA, the former Duke standout has big shoes to fill. Terry Stotts will look upon the young center to carry a big workload as the team moves on from prominent big men in Robin Lopez and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Plumlee averaged 8.7 points-per-game and 6.2 rebounds-per-game in a full 2014-2015 season with the Nets. He started 45 games which, like his averages, was a noticeable increase from his rookie season. How Plumlee adapts to a full-time starting role remains to be seen.
Ed Davis
Now with his fourth NBA team, Davis will start at power forward for the Blazers. The five-year veteran averaged 8.3 points-per-game and 7.6 rebounds-per-game last season for the Los Angeles Lakers. He started 24 of 79 games, tying a career-high in starts and setting a new career high in games played in a single season. Like Plumlee, Davis will enter new bounds in a full-time starting role as he takes the place of Aldridge.
Noah Vonleh
Brought in with Henderson in the Hornets trade, Vonleh is yet another young player added to the Blazers' frontcourt. Vonleh, who turned 20 in August, is entering his second season in the NBA. He has not done much since being drafted ninth overall in 2014 and has just 25 games under his belt. Vonleh will have to work under the leadership of Davis and veteran, Chris Kaman, as he fights for his spot in the Blazers' lineup. A thinned-out roster will pave the way for Vonleh to log serious minutes off the bench.
Mike Miller
One of two players on the roster over the age of 30, Miller brings much-needed playoff experience to Rip City. A two-time NBA Champion, the 35 year-old spent four of the past five seasons alongside LeBron James in both, Miami and Cleveland. Now joining his seventh NBA team, the 15-year veteran will provide little more than a locker room presence for the Blazers.
Key Losses
LaMarcus Aldridge
The hottest commodity on the open market this summer, Aldridge found a new home with the San Antonio Spurs and leaves behind a gaping hole in the Blazers' lineup. Aldridge led the team in points and rebounds in 2014-2015 and ranked in the league's top-ten in both categories. In a contract year, the ninth-year forward set a career-high in scoring and was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star game. It was a long shot for the Blazers to re-sign him and now they have to put their faith in Lillard to carry the team back to the postseason.
Nicolas Batum
Batum, who made a name for himself in Portland, was traded away this summer, a move that was likely an attempt to free up space in the salary cap for Aldridge. Regardless, Batum will help the Hornets in the 2015-2016 season instead of the Blazers. The 26 year-old has averaged double-digit scoring in all but two of his seven years in the NBA. He is a valuable small forward and can find success in all facets of the game. Batum has a great ability to shoot three-pointers and his presence on the wing will certainly be missed.
Robin Lopez
The aforementioned Lopez was an underrated player on the 2014-2015 Blazers roster, largely overshadowed by Aldridge. One of many 2015 free agents leaving Portland, Lopez found a new team in the New York Knicks and takes with him his team-leading 1.4 blocks-per-game. Not an overpowering rebounder, Lopez is a capable defender and an equally decent scorer. The seventh-year veteran also led the Blazers in field goal percentage last season.
Wesley Matthews
The third-best scorer on the Blazers in 2014-2015 continues the list of free agents who cashed in with another team this summer. Now with the Dallas Mavericks, Matthews is still recovering from an Achilles injury that held him to 60 games last season. In six NBA seasons, Matthews has been a solid scorer and reached the near-16.0ppg mark last season for the third time in his career. The young shooting guard was a great compliment to Lillard, largely due to his three-point shooting ability. The Blazers, however, have a viable replacement in Henderson and one that may ultimately be an upgrade as it relates to Matthews' recovery from injury.
Arron Afflalo
Acquired in a mid-season trade with the Denver Nuggets, Afflalo's time in Portland was short-lived. The fourth and final free-agent casualty on this list, Afflalo joined Lopez in signing with the Knicks this summer. One of the better two-way players in the NBA, the praise Afflalo receives for his defense largely overshadows his scoring ability. He nearly averaged 20 points-per-game two seasons ago and has held a double-digit scoring average the past five seasons. Once thought of as the piece that could allow the Blazers to make a deep run in last season's playoffs, a shoulder injury nullified Afflalo's effectiveness and the eight-year veteran quickly departed for his fifth NBA team.
Biggest Strength
The Guard Position
One of the few constants in this Blazers lineup is newly re-signed point guard, Damian Lillard. Entering his fourth NBA season, Lillard has been one of the biggest surprises in the league since coming out of Weber State in 2012. The two-time All-Star was a great compliment to LaMarcus Aldridge and the two were neck-and-neck in scoring.
Lillard, who has been a top-twenty scorer the past two seasons, will now be required to increase his duties as a scoring point guard. Gerald Henderson, who will work alongside Lillard at the other guard, may ultimately be the Blazers' second-best weapon in 2015-2016. There are few strengths on this roster, but the guard position appears to be the most stable leading up to the season.
Biggest Weakness
Depth
The Blazers had the worst offseason of any team and, although they did an adequate job bringing in players to replace their many departures, depth remains a large concern. Terry Stotts will rely heavily on young players in 2015-2016, something his roster has in bulk.
As a result of the young players who have little experience in a starting lineup, Stotts will depend on his bench to provide solid minutes. That lack of experience comes hand-in-hand with the Blazers' lack of depth and players such as Davis and Plumlee will have to elevate their games in starting roles if Portland hopes to make the postseason for the third straight year.
Bottom Line
Losing five of the top six scorers is a recipe for disaster on any team. Especially when it leaves you with one returning starter. The Blazers' showed no lack of effort this offseason but were victimized by free agency and are now looking at rebuilding their team with Damian Lillard. Luckily for the organization, they are surrounded by developing teams in the Northwest Division. Their offseason additions may allow them to keep up with the pack, but competing with the Thunder is out of the question, as is the postseason.
Fantasy Slant
Most overrated: Gerald Henderson
Not much else to choose from. In his six years in the NBA, Henderson has been an average scorer. He does not have much to his game other than potential. An upgrade in point guards could be a key ingredient to Henderson's success in 2015-2016 as he leaves Kemba Walker for Lillard. Still, Henderson turns the ball over frequently and does not have much to offer other than points.
Most underrated: Noah Vonleh
A young player who carried with him a lot of hype coming out of Indiana University as a freshman, Vonleh could develop into a prominent forward within several years. Vonleh could easily play a vital role on the bench behind Ed Davis at power forward. Although he only played 25 games in his rookie season, the 20 year-old Vonleh nearly recorded two double-doubles in the Hornets' last three games of the season. Each time, he grabbed 12 rebounds and, on one occasion, he added a couple of blocks. At 6'10", Vonleh has the potential to blow up in his sophomore season.
Biggest surprise: Mason Plumlee
After being removed from the shadow of Brook Lopez, Plumlee has an opportunity to prove his worth as a starting center. He foreshadowed his capabilities at that position last season, averaging more points and rebounds as a starter than off the bench. He also showcased his playmaking ability more in his second season, which included the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest. As the starting center for the Blazers, Plumlee could surprise a lot of people if Lillard can consistantly get him the ball. An optimist's point of view would indicate Plumlee is in for a good year.