Portland Trail Blazers’ Frenzied Offseason Has Been Part of the Plan All Along

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Friday, May 15, 2015

Bryant Knox of partner site Oregon Sports News

If it’s true that we sometimes fear what we don’t understand, Portland Trail Blazers fans are justifiably shaking in their boots.

Following a disappointing end to the 2014-15 NBA season, free agency is on the horizon, and there are far more questions than answers. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the most-coveted free agents to hit the market across the Association, and high-profile teams are already rumored to have interest. Wesley Matthews is also set to explore his options while recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury. And Robin Lopez, despite seeing a late-season dip in production, will leverage his two-year body of work with the Blazers to earn a well-deserved pay raise. 

When it comes down to it, the Blazers only have four guaranteed contracts looking ahead to next season. Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum, CJ McCollum and Meyers Leonard will be back in 2015-16, but the rest of the roster could depart, either by their own decision or via the powers that be within management.

Who will be back? That remains the question. But while it’s the unknown that has fans nervous, it’s important to remember that this summer of mystery has been in the works for quite some time. 

“It’s gonna be fun,” general manager Neil Olshey said recently about free agency, according to The Oregonian’s Sean Meagher. “When we took over three years ago, we knew we had a three-year window with this group under their current contract status.”

When Olshey arrived in Portland, fans were rightfully undecided. Not only had this particular franchise seen management come and go in mysterious, bizarre fashion over the past few seasons, but there was an arrogance with the guy that nobody was sure would translate to success.

In Olshey’s defense, he had the right to be arrogant. It wasn’t just the Hollywood hair and smile that gave him confidence; it was the fact that he’d been responsible for landing Chris Paul with the Los Angeles Clippers. He’d also signed DeAndre Jordan to a massive contract extension, locking up one of the league’s most athletic big men long-term. 

Jordan hadn’t yet earned the money, but Olshey knew that contracts aren’t awarded solely on past production. He was looking toward the future, and when you look at Jordan now (free-throw misery aside), it turns out the GM knew what he was doing all along. 

That’s what fans in Portland need to remember. Say it out loud if you have to: Neil Olshey knew what he was doing all along. 

As many questions as the Blazers have regarding who will return, this team has flexibility. If you think it’s a coincidence, or scary that Portland has so many free agents coming off the books, you’re not looking at the bigger picture.

Thanks to the GM’s crafty acquisitions, Portland has the ability to seek rotational help this offseason even with a max contract going Aldridge’s way. Conversely, the Blazers will be in immaculate shape to re-tool the roster with cap space should the four-time All-Star depart for greener pastures—as far from ideal as that would be. 

Maybe the best news of all is that regardless of what happens in free agency, Olshey’s draft picks are finally showing their true potential. We’ve known what Lillard can do since his arrival, and now he’s eligible for a long-term extension. But McCollum had his coming out party during the 2015 playoffs, averaging 17 points on 47.8 percent shooting (including 47.8 3PT%). Leonard also showed what he can do during the second half of the regular season, transitioning from a joke in Portland to a legitimate threat from deep.

The question is: Will Portland be better next season? That answer won’t be known for quite some time, but as fans cross their fingers with free agency looming, remember that this team isn’t here by accident. Olshey didn’t create Plan A and hold his breath waiting; he established a blueprint that accounts for Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and beyond.

For better or worse, Portland’s summer of 2015 is Olshey’s creation. Change isn’t something that should always be feared—sometimes it’s part of the plan. 

Despite a putrid showing by the Blazers in the playoffs, fans shouldn’t mistake the mystery that’s around the corner for chaos. Flexibility trumps comfort, and Olshey has built this summer’s blueprint with long-term progress in mind. 

GoLocalPDX partner Oregon Sports News: Since 2011, Oregon Sports News has provided entertaining, hard-hitting local sports news & commentary every weekday. To read more from this author, check out Oregon Sports News by clicking here.

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