Portland Trail Blazers: Should they be getting more respect in the West?
By Criss Partee
The Portland Trail Blazers should be getting more respect
Have the Portland Trail Blazers done enough during the offseason to be considered real contenders in the Western Conference for the 2020-21 season? Not according to many sportsbooks, including The Action Network which has Portland checking in with the 8th best odds to win the conference this season.
This seems horribly miscalculated on the part of Vegas, which usually nails the odds, more often than they miss.
Aside from the Los Angeles Lakers, the Blazers may have had the best offseason of any team based on some of the trade acquisitions and players they were able to re-sign. The core of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum returns healthy and could be the best backcourt in the league this season.
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The Blazers addressed a pressing need on the wing by bringing in free agent Derrick Jones Jr. and trading away their 2020 first-round draft pick (16th overall) and their 2021 first-round pick (top 14 protected), and small forward Trevor Ariza to the Houston Rockets for Robert Covington.
These moves immediately improved the Blazers in an area where they lacked last season due to injury. Rodney Hood re-signed with the team after having his 2019-20 campaign shortened due to an Achilles injury, so only time will tell what he can still bring on the court. If Hood can return as even 80 percent of what he was before the injury, he should contribute heavily for the Blazers in 2020-21.
Forward Carmelo Anthony decided to stick around as well and if he can finally accept a role off the bench, his experience and knack for hitting bit shots should prove to be vital to a potential playoff run for this team.
Center Enes Kanter has found his way back to town via trade, and this reunites him with the same core he helped reach the Western Conference Finals in 2019. Kanter brings a veteran presence inside and will give the Blazers more size off the bench after losing center Hassan Whiteside in the offseason.
Even in a tough Western Conference, it is hard to see this team finishing ninth in the West if they stay healthy. Do not be surprised to see the Blazers fighting for the fifth or sixth seed in the West, with an outside shot at the fourth seed.
There may only be three teams that can for sure be placed ahead of the Blazers, currently in the west. Both the LA Clippers and Lakers, along with the Denver Nuggets. Though the Blazers should be able to make a run at the Nuggets for third out West, based on their depth and again, staying healthy.
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So let’s not sleep on the Blazers just yet, as they may be primed and ready to go on a magical run similar to that of 2019.