Looking for feedback on Portland
G: Damien Lillard, R.Sessions
F: Nic Batum
F: Thabo Sefolosha, K.Singler
F: Nick Collison, B.Bass
C: LaMarcus Aldridge, J.Valanciunas
I think it is very similar to the current Blazers team.
A few differences between the two teams though:
- A more polished big man prospect in Valanciunas instead of M.Leonard
- An upgrade on Portland's second starting wing with Thabo Sefolosha there instead of Wes Matthews
- Nick Collison instead of JJ Hickson who gives the Blazers much better interior and team defense
- An above average bench instead of the garbage Portland has been fielding this year.
I think those differences give your squad more value. Probably 10-12 extra wins. I think Portland is on something like a 35 win pace so that would bring you up to the mid-40s win wise.
And having a strong prospect like J.Valanciunas over a raw prospect like M.Leonard gives your squad a much more, emm ... tangible future. Something you can depend on. Build around with expectations.
L.Aldridge and J.Valanciunas will be a very effective big man combination in the long term. Their size and length is going to be an intimidating factor for whoever plays against you. Combined with two big wings in Batum and Thabo and Portland clearly has the early stages of a top notch defensive (and rebounding) team down the road.
A probable title contender in another 2-3 years time.