Portland Trail Blazers.
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers.
Does Portland Trail Blazers management have a stubborn, narrow view when it comes to building a championship team in Rip City? Portland’s success revolves around three players, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic to be dominant each night. Admittedly, Dame did most of the heavy “lifting” when it came to the team’s advancement in the playoffs. Just ask Patrick Beverly and Russell Westbrook.
Championship teams of years past have traditionally had a big three. Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale for the Boston Celtics dynasty. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, James Worthy for the Lakers dynasty. Bill Laimbeer, Isaiah Thomas Rick Mahorn. The Blazers have their big three in Dame, CJ, and Nurk. Why is this team not throwing championship parades yearly and looking to defend their title the next year?
Ever since the 2015 Golden State Warriors won their first championship, without using a dominant big man, relying on the marksmanship of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, we are in a new NBA era. Now it’s all about perimeter shooting (even though Golden State had Kevin Durant from 2016-19).
Outside of their big three, there isn’t anyone else the Portland Trail Blazers can rely on, on a nightly basis. This is the challenge, as a good part of the team’s cap money is tied up in the big three. Then the Blazers need to find enough money to resign Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside. Otherwise, Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey needs to look at a massive overhaul of their big three. I’m talking about blowing this group up, if necessary.
Gary Trent Jr., Portland Trail Blazers.
Last year though, something interesting happened. Not the bubble or the pandemic, Portland was finally able to acquire reliable complementary players who fit in perfectly with the big three, Trevor Ariza and Carmelo Anthony. Ariza never was or will be an NBA team’s lead player, but he’s a great third or fourth option. Melo’s days as his team’s top player are over, but he is certainly capable of being that guy on any given night. They are the kind of pieces that all championship teams have. Guys that aren’t the main stars but are solid contributors.
Can management bring back Anthony and Whiteside and keep Ariza? All while making sure Nurkic, McCollum, and Lillard are getting their touches and staying happy? Okay, Lillard will get his hands on the ball, so we don’t have to worry about him. Whiteside showed he could do exactly what Nurkic can, maybe even better than Nurkic. Will Whiteside want more playing time? Would Nurkic be ok with a reduced role?
The NBA 82 game schedule is long, so having depth is vital, especially in the tough Western Conference. But the 2020-21 season may not be 82 games. With the 2019-2020 season just wrapping up and commissioner Adam Silver suggesting the next season will begin in January of 2021 (if we’re lucky Christmas of 2020), we’re probably not getting a full 82 games. At this point, we’re unsure of the number of games that will be played next year or possibly where, if this pandemic is still ongoing. There’s also the NBA Draft that needs to happen, plus free agency.
There are many unknowns at this point, which makes putting together a winning roster difficult.
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers.
Let’s get back to what we do know about the Portland Trail Blazers. This current big three isn’t working. They’ve only won the Northwest Division twice in the last 10 years. Also, in those past 10 years, they’ve missed the playoffs twice and reached the conference finals just ONCE!
If the Blazers bring back Whiteside, Ariza, and Anthony but don’t do the following: A) win the Northwest Division, B) make it to the conference finals, and C) make it to the NBA Finals, then changes must be made. This roster needs to be blown up.
Sorry for the hurt feelings; I like winning. Winning is fun. One thing the team would need to do is get some financial cap flexibility. That means moving either Lillard or McCollum. The Blazers would have their pick of teams and offers to choose from. Nurkic has some value as a good player on a nice contract. How many teams need a starting big man in the new NBA, that can generate a good offer for the Blazers to take?
The Blazers don’t need to go the way of “The Process” for a rebuild, either. This team can go the way of the not so common reload route. They could easily move one of their elite starting backcourt players and be a viable playoff team. The Northwest has no dominant team, such as the Los Angeles Lakers; they need to get past.
The 2020-2021 season is it for this current group of Portland Trailblazers. Either they reach the above goals, or management must change the dynamic.
Do you think 2020 is the final chance for the Portland Trail Blazers big three to prove themselves? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.