NBA: Re-seeding the Western Conference after the Free Agency

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 07: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2014 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

5. Portland Trail Blazers

Last season: 49-33, 3rd

Notable ins: Seth Curry, Nick Stauskas

Notable outs: Shabazz Napier, Ed Davis

The Portland Trail Blazers suffered an embarrassing collapse in the playoffs, so it’s easy to forget how well they played throughout the regular season. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum formed a high-octane offensive backcourt, while the team was inside the top 10 for defensive rating.

They have most of their key pieces returning, with Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier the only rotational players signing elsewhere. The Blazers would be hoping for Zach Collins to step into Davis’ role, as he started to show more consistent signs of improvement during the year.

Surprisingly, Portland has brought in a plethora of guards during the offseason, meaning Napier shouldn’t be missed too much. Draft picks Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. seem to be longer-term prospects, but Seth Curry could prove to be a steal.

He missed all of last season with a stress fracture in his leg, but shot 42.5 percent from deep in 2016-17. He should ensure that the Blazers lose none of their perimeter firepower when McCollum or Lillard sits.

By re-signing Jusuf Nurkic and electing not to trade Lillard or McCollum, the Blazers have essentially locked themselves into this core, at least for the time being. That’s not necessarily the worst thing, as last season was a successful one up until the playoffs.

If they can shake off the memories of their horror postseason, they should finish around the same mark next season.

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