Samuel

While all our backs were turned, Portland passed an important mile marker on their way back to the playoffs: the halfway point.

The rebuilding of the Portland Trailblazers is at least halfway finished, IMO. Last year, it seemed like though a few players were making progress (Khryapa, Martell), there were still a lot of people on the team that would eventually be moved. That's not the case this season.

Funny to think about, but it's true. Consider:

- Aldridge, Roy, and Sergio have already proven to management that they belong here for a long time.

- Jarrett Jack has been inconsistent sometimes, but on the whole you'd have to agree that he's earned the starting job on this team. Whether or not he or Sergio start down the road, they're both certainly on the roster.

- Joel Przybilla chose Portland this summer, and we paid wholesale prices for him. He'll at least be a guy off the bench of that future playoff team.

- Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw remain the biggest questionmarks on the squad. But I think their performances thus far have been good enough to show management that they're worth keeping around. Webster, at worst, is a streak shooter who can catch fire. Outlaw, at worst, is a long guy who can come in with energy off the bench and knock down shots (46%). Allen should be able to pay a reasonable price for him, given his slow development. And yet, he's younger than Roy.

- I think the Blazers are going to sign Udoka to a Dixon-type contract at the end of the season. He can hit the open jumper, play defense, and scrap for rebounds. He may ride the bench down the road, but you always want a guy like him on your team.

- Zach. Someone said it yesterday: now that Roy and Aldridge have become the 'faces of the franchise', Zach's character issues become less important. I'm starting to think that Zach might be around when Portland makes their first playoff run.

That's 9 players right there, 4-5 of which will command major minutes. Add in the lottery pick at the end of the season, and the team is largely finished with rebuilding. Sure, Pritchard will probably add 2-3 key vets to replace Dixon and play defense, but the major construction of this team is complete.

That's kind of exciting to think about, don't you think?

BuckW4GM

good thread.

i voted 60% complete. i think our hopefully high draft pick this season is going to be crucial. if we pick up oden, then i think all we need is to add a solid vet with our MLE. if we end up with Durant, then he's going to the guy we build our team around, along with Aldridge and Roy.

i'm certain that our future at sg is set with Roy. Aldridge is also a guy that i'm very high on. and Jack is going to hold onto the pg spot for awhile unless sergio really step it up.

so that's 3 guys playing 3 different positions that i'm quite certain are going to be big parts on our team long term.

dudleysghost

I voted 75%, although I'm not sure what the scale is supposed to be. The way I see it though, the future core of the team is almost in place. Jack, Roy and Aldridge are the major pieces. Joel and Udoka are key role players. We'll add one more major piece in the 2007 draft. Sergio and Zach are big talents that may be moved in trade if they don't fit in, but I'm guessing they will both be with us for a while. The rest of the team will be filled with later draft picks and low level free agent signings, maybe a trade or two, but the most important pieces of the team are already here.

I also think we will make the playoffs in 2008.

__________________
Jeff Van Gundy to the Houston Chronicle: "Everybody gets excited about youth except the coach, because he knows youth means mistakes, mistakes mean losses, losses means you're fired."

zagsfan20

The difference in the NBA between winning and losing could mean only one solid player. That player could be there in this years draft in Oden, Durant or Budinger. If we can score one of those guys in this coming draft I say were 70% there, if not I think were more in the 60% range.

__________________
"I condemn remarks that are, in any way, viewed as anti-anything".
- John McCain

Rodney Stuckey is the future of the league.

Nate Dogg

I have discussed it with Zagfan. The only current (active) Blazer that I am disappointed in, due to lack of offensive punch is Juan Dixon. Dixons stats for last year was 12.3 pts/game and hes currently shooting 8.8 pts/game with less fg/%. It seems that J. Jack is getting more offensive.
For a backup player, I am disappointed with Dan Dickau. For someone being bumped around in the league in the last few years, being the 2nd/3rd point guard he really needs to get more experience in the DL for a while.
Outlaw has been a rollercoaster over his NBA career (stats), but watching him this year hes really getting agressive and getting a balanced attack in his production with his points per game going up.
I underestimated Sergio, as I dissed him in the past. At this moment in time I would prefer him over Dickau. Sergio has really impressed me.
Webster, well I just hope he stays concistant with his ball ability and he tends to lead the team in 3 point %.
I gave my vote for the club at 50%.

__________________
2006 OSU Beaver Football finished w/ #22 BCS ranking.
Highlights: defeated #3 USC & UH #24
2006 Sunbowl Champs 39-38 vs Missouri (comeback)

RedHot&Rolling

I voted 60% also. My reasons are that we've added key players for our future in Roy and Aldridge, plus one in June '07. We've got solid players in Jack, Joel, Zach, Ime and Sergio. We have budding and promising Outlaw and Webster.

We add one or two more drafted players and make a trade deal here or there to tweak the lineup and we're 85% there.

Patience will result in playoffs in 2008-09.

__________________
Trail Blazers Fan since Walton was injured the first time!
OSU Beavers Alumni & Fan since Ralph Miller's Orange Express -

"Fans cheer when they have reason to." Stop the programmed noise!!