PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
"Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit: team, team, team - no one more important that the other."




















Roster:C: Horford / Battie / Mourning
PF: Stoudemire / Haslem / B. Wright
SF: Gay / Webster
SG: Iguodala / Mobley / Ross
PG: Ford / Blake / Atkins / Ukic
Overseas: Pekovic, Asik, Erden, Arroyo, Barac, Diamantidis
Front office:General Manager: Roy Hobbs
Head Coach: Norman Dale
Assistant Coaches: Wilbur "Shooter" Flatch, Jimmy Chitwood, Pete Carril, Dick Harter
Equipment Manager: Bobby Savoy
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Player | Position | Draft Position | Age | Height | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Blocks | Steals | eFG% |
Amare Stoudemire | PF / C | 1st (9) | 25 | 6'10" | 25.2 | 9.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.8 | .590 |
Andre Iguodala | SG / SF | 1st (26) | 24 | 6'6" | 19.9 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 2.1 | .495 |
Rudy Gay | SF / PF | 2nd (2) | 22 | 6'9" | 20.1 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.4 | .511 |
Al Horford | PF / C | 2nd (13) | 22 | 6'10" | 10.1 | 9.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | .499 |
T.J. Ford | PG | 3rd (9) | 25 | 6'0" | 12.1 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 1.1 | .484 |
Udonis Haslem | PF | 5th (4) | 28 | 6'8" | 12.0 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | .467 |
Martell Webster | SG / SF | 6th (10) | 21 | 6'9" | 10.7 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | .516 |
Steve Blake | PG | 6th (29) | 28 | 6'3" | 8.5 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 | .502 |
Brandan Wright | PF | 7th (3) | 20 | 6'9" | 4.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | .554 |
Cuttino Mobley | SG | 9th (3) | 32 | 6'4" | 12.8 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | .472 |
Tony Battie | PF / C | 10th (2) | 32 | 6'11" | 6.1 | 5.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | .489 |
Alonzo Mourning | C | Via trade | 38 | 6'10" | 6.0 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | .560 |
Quinton Ross | SG / SF | 10th (27) | 27 | 6'6" | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | .404 |
Chucky Atkins | PG | 13th (12) | 34 | 5'11" | 4.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | .447 |
Roko Ukic | PG / SG | 14th (16) | 23 | 6'5" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Nikola Pekovic | PF / C | 15th (7) | 22 | 6'11" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Omer Asik | C | 15th (12) | 22 | 7'0" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Semih Erden | C | 15th (13) | 22 | 7'1"" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Carlos Arroyo | PG | Free agent | 29 | 6'2" | 6.9 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.4 | .493 |
Stanko Barac | PF/C | Free agent | 22 | 7'1" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
D.Diamantidis | PG/SG | Free agent | 28 | 6'5" | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
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Highlights (may contain explicit lyrics):Amare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZjPnqzq_E0Rudy Gay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCso8qP_Mm4Andre Iguodala:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw3XoKs2PVIAl Horford:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMIOBJPGWJgT.J. Ford:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzCYvZpvqKcDrafting philosophy / strategy: Going into the draft, I wanted to build a team that was both good enough to "win now", and young enough to be a "team of the future", as well. I also wanted to position myself as well as possible in the draft, by moving down in the draft to pick up additional draft picks. The plan was to then use some (but not all) of those picks to move back up again, to target specific players. Thus, the hope was that I'd be able to maintain depth *and* draft elite talent. I also wanted to, if possible, build around a top-nine player in the draft, as I thought there were nine players a team could build a franchise around (the actual top ten drafted, minus Dirk).
Luckily, the plan worked out. I was able to land five picks in the first 69 picks, including two first rounders and two second rounders. With those first five picks, I drafted young, elite, athletic talent at each of the five starting positions. I also tried to pick players who would fit alongside one another, rather than simply drafting the best talent. Thus, why I "reached" for a player like Rudy Gay at the top of the second round; Rudy is perfectly willing to be a second fiddle, which is an important attribute on my team.
I also wanted to draft versatile players who could play on both ends of the court. Every player in my starting lineup can score outside the paint, including Amare and Horford. Horford, Iguodala, and Gay are all good defenders (with Iggy at an elite level), and Ford isn't bad. Amare is the weak link, but by playing power forward, a lot of his defensive lapses will be covered. Furthermore, Amare makes up for any mistakes on defense by being by far the best offensive big man in basketball; nobody else even comes close.
In constructing the bench, I wanted three things: shooting, experience, and defense. I was fortunate that players who fit into each of those categories fell to me. I knew that I needed to pick up veterans, which is why I traded up in the fifth round to land Udonis Haslem. The late round picks of Tony Battie, Cuttino Mobley and Chucky Atkins, and the trade for Alonzo Mourning, were also big in this regard. In reference to shooting, Mobley, Martell Webster, and Steve Blake should all help space the floor. Defensively, I drafted Quinton Ross, a defensive specialist, to go along with the elite defensive big men already on my bench. I gambled on one potential "home run" pick in Brandan Wright, a player whom I love, but who hasn't shown a ton yet due to minutes limitations.
Toughest Decision: My toughest draft decision was deciding between Rudy Gay and Michael Beasley. To me, Michael Beasley has franchise player potential. He would have been a steal with my first second round pick. However, he just didn't fit my team very well. A front line of Amare / Beasley would have gotten eaten alive. Additionally, both Amare and Beasley have had some attitude problems; putting them both on the same team would have been a disaster. I decided, then, to go with the player who is more willing to accept his role, and who is more likely to contribute on both ends of the court in the short term. I'm happy with the choice, but it wasn't an easy one.
Drafting Amare over Dwyane Wade was a tough call, as well. There, I decided that drafting an elite big man was more important than drafting an elite guard. In hindsight, I'm very happy with how things worked out.
Best move: The best trade I made was actually set up by a series of trades. I started with the #8 pick, and continually moved back in the draft, until Jsaad (Houston) offered me the opportunity to move back up into the top-four using some of the additional draft picks I had picked up. I jumped at the chance. I then re-traded that top-four pick for a top-nine pick and additional choices. Therefore, I achieved my twin goals of picking up depth *and* a top-nine player at the same time.
The other move I was very happy with was the trade with Oklahoma City, wherein I sacrificed a lot of draft position in later rounds, but picked up an additional late first rounder. Ultimately, the chance to draft one elite guy made up for the draft position I lost (I dropped a total of 105 draft positions in the trade, plus gave up two draft picks.)
Roster breakdown:Amare Stoudemire -- As said above, this guy is the best offensive big man in the NBA. He can score inside and outside, with power or finesse. He was second in the NBA in PER, and was a top-five scorer. Defensively, he's weak, but will improve moving to power forward.
Andre Iguodala -- A great, great player that people need to watch to properly appreciate. He is legitimately great on the defensive end, and he has an all-around offensive game. He's an excellent slasher and finisher, is a decent shooter (although not great), and a superb passer.
Rudy Gay -- Perhaps the most explosive player on my team, on a team that's full of them. Rudy isn't afraid to take clutch shots (as witnessed by his buzzer beater against the Celts two seasons ago), but he's also willing to defer to his teammates. He's got great instincts on both ends of the court, and is a disruptive defender. I only expect him to improve on both ends.
Al Horford -- I love this kid. He's big, he's tough, he's a leader, he doesn't back down from vets. Yet, he's also willing to co-exist in a team environment and survive doing the dirty work. He's already a well-above-average defender, and on offense he has one of the sweetest jumpers in the NBA.
T.J. Ford -- If he's healthy, he's an elite point guard, no question. He's one of the best pure passers in the NBA, and he's an elite finisher, as well. He's got an excellent mid-range game, and his three point game is improving (although still far from refined). His weaknesses are 1) defense (not terrible, but average at best) and 2) health. Assuming his spine is okay -- and all indications are that it is -- he should be Portland's starting PG for years to come.
Udonis Haslem -- I couldn't ask for a better first big off the bench. This guy is a good defender, is decent on offense, and has won a championship. He's tough, and is a good leader. He's also worked his way up in the league, starting out as an overweight, undrafted rookie, and eventually becoming a starter on a championship team. Any guy who can lose 70 pounds in one year to reach his goals is a guy who I'd take on my team.
Martell Webster -- An excellent shooter and finisher. He could use some work on his rebounding and defense, but he has made marked improvements in both areas. This kid is going to get substantially better.
Steve Blake -- The perfect veteran backup point guard. He doesn't worry about looking for his own offense; he sets up teammates, and takes open threes. He's an adequate defender, and is by all indications a great teammate.
Brandan Wright -- A project, who can contribute as a "garbage man" right away. He's too skinny, for sure, hurting his one-on-one defense. In his rookie season, though, he showed the ability to score and to block shots as a help defender. This kid has all-star potential (legitimately), but worse case should turn into the second coming of Tony Battie. Early in the season, I expect him to get legit minutes, as Mourning will still be recovering, and Battie will be rested when possible.
Cuttino Mobley -- A good veteran backup for the bench. He's getting old, and has declined a bit, but he can still shoot and create his own offense. He was a steal in the ninth round.
Tony Battie -- Maybe my first "need" pick, Tony is a solid veteran defender at the center position. Health is a concern; he missed last season with a rotator cuff injury. All reports are that he's made a full recovery, so at this point, we're counting on big things.
Alonzo Mourning -- I traded for Zo to shore up the backup 5, and to bring some vet leadership. Alonzo should be recovered by January, but I don't expect much of a regular season contribution from him except in the locker room. The reason Alonzo is on this roster is for the playoffs. I'm hoping for one healthy center between Zo and Battie; I like my chances.
Quinton Ross -- An all-defense, no-offense role player. He can shut down opposing swing men and point guards. I love him for a limited role.
Chucky Atkins -- Insurance. Chucky isn't a bad third-string point guard, and is good insurance should Ford suffer another injury. It's likely Atkins will be a starter for the "real" Denver Nuggets team this year, so having him deep on my bench isn't such a bad thing. He knows how to distribute the ball, and can hit open jumpers. That's all he needs to do in my offense.
Roko Ukic -- I doubt Ukic sees much playing time at all this season. This is meant purely as a pick for the future; the guy is a 6'5" point guard who has experience running the point for some of the elite teams in Europe. He's a better scorer than distributor right now, but having another guy who can create his own offense can't hurt.
Nikola Pekovic -- This guy will be stashed in Europe for a couple of years, as he says he's comfortable playing overseas right now. He dominated his European competition this year, and will only continue to improve. He's big, strong, and physical, and has legitimate starter potential in the NBA.
Omer Asik -- Another potential starter in the NBA, and a true 7-footer. He's got great measurables (7'2" wing span, 9'4" standing reach), he's got good hands, a nice shooting touch, and is very good defensively. Offensively, he could use a bit of work, but he's a nice overseas prospect.
Semih Erden -- As much as I'd love to say that I drafted him for his potential, the primary reason he's on the roster is because he's a Celtic. However, he's also seven feet tall, and has shown a mean streak. He's raw offensively, but could be a player in the enforcer / garbage man role.
Carlos Arroyo -- The guy is a legit NBA-level point guard. He's probably a 8th or 9th round talent in our draft (if not higher), so to wait on him for a year or two while he's overseas isn't a problem.
Stanko Barac -- I love this guy, mostly because his name is "Stanko". He's also a very skilled 7'1" power forward / center who has put up very good numbers in Europe. The downside is that he has four years left on a long-term deal over there. There upside is, when he comes over to the NBA, he'll only be 26, and will have four years of experience on a top-flight Euro team (TAU CerĂ¡mica).
Dimitris Diamantidis -- An extremely good passer, shooter, and defender. Diamantidis could start for several teams in the NBA right now. Of course, he's got no current desire to join the NBA, but I'm happy to have his rights in case he ever decides to change his mind.
Coaching staff -- Come on. It's Norman Dale. "I've seen you guys can shoot but there's more to the game than shooting. There's fundamentals and defense"; "Stick with your man. Think of him as chewing gum. By the end of the game, I want you to know what flavor he is."; "My team is on the floor". If Norman Dale can get Jimmy Chitwood and six scrubs to beat Oscar Robertson, I think he can handle the Orlando Magics. Seriously, if he can't get these guys to buy into a team concept, nobody can.
Outlook for the 2008-09 season and beyond: I fully expect my team to seriously contend this season. I think I have the best team in my division, and should be one of the clear-cut favorites in my conference. I think my team matches up well with any team in the league, including the New Jersey and Orlando powerhouses in the East. With my blend of experienced vets and battle-tested youth, a championship this season is a realistic possibility.
The real fun for this team will be in the future, though. My entire starting lineup is age 25 or below, and nobody in my "core" is over 28. Of those players, three of them have scored at or near the 20 points per game level. Al Horford was great as a rookie, and he's only going to get better, while T.J. Ford is going to look like Steve Nash with so many options at his disposal. Martell Webster should make major strides this year, and Roko Ukic is a 6'5" point guard prospect who can create his own shot and set up others. Brandan Wright could -- and in my view, *should* -- eventually be an all-star. This team has the best collection of young talent in the league; while other teams rely upon young players with "upside", this team is built around young guys who are already getting it done in a big way. In terms of team goals, four championships in six years is a realistic possibility.