With the trades of Gerald Wallace (New Jersey) and Marcus Camby (Houston), as well as the dismissal of head coach Nate McMillan, the team has entered a much-needed rebuilding mode. For a team that had so much promise just a few seasons ago, injuries and front office upheaval have left this team a shell of its projected future dominance. Brandon Roy has retired, and Greg Oden has now been waived after another microfracture surgery was needed.
First I'll break down the New Jersey trade:
New Jersey receives: SF Gerald Wallace
Portland receives: SF Shawne Williams, PF/C Mehmet Okur, 2012 1st round pick (top three protected)
While Wallace is clearly the best player in the deal, the most important pieces for Portland are the first round pick, as well as Mehmet Okur's expiring contract. The Blazers were willing to eat the salary of Shawne Williams (who Portland will likely try and buy out) in order to get a second first round draft pick in what is a fairly solid top half of the draft this season. With New Jersey currently holding the sixth-worst record in the league, the Blazers would have the potential to possess two of the top 14 picks (provided the Blazers don't go on a ridiculous run to end up in the playoffs).
Wallace was likely going to opt out of his current contract at season's end, should he have accepted, the Blazers would have had a harder time retaining small forward Nicolas Batum (who will be a restricted free agent this summer). This move also alleviates some of the logjam on the wing, as Batum will slide over to small forward, with Wesley Matthews likely rejoining the starting lineup at shooting guard. This may also free up minutes for both SF Luke Babbitt and SG Elliot Williams.
Next up is the Houston trade:
Houston receives: C Marcus Camby
Portland receives: PG Jonny Flynn, C Hasheem Thabeet, 2012 2nd-round pick (from HOU via MIN)
Camby was in the last year of his contract, and his performance and effort this season were largely inconsistent. The Blazers will be able to take fliers on both Flynn and Thabeet, who have both struggled since being lottery selections in 2009 (Thabeet 2nd, Flynn 6th). Both have team options that the Blazers can exercise if they work out over the next month and a half, but would have no further commitments beyond this season if their struggles continue. The 2nd round pick is also a nice throw-in. It's likely Joel Przybilla becomes the starting center, with Thabeet and Kurt Thomas seeing time behind him (with Thomas also getting looks at the backup '4').
There had been writing on the wall regarding Nate McMillan's firing for a little while now, and with massive struggles during the team's current seven game road trip (including an embarrassing 42-point loss to the Knicks on Wednesday), as well as the team deciding to rebuild, letting McMillan go was the right move. While McMillan had done a good job when the team was short-handed due to injuries, he's not a coach that gives rookies (or young players in general) a lot of minutes. Interim coach Kaleb Canales has a good rapport with franchise player LaMarcus Aldridge, and will likely provide the team with more offensive flow and freedom, as well as the opportunity for young players to prove their worth.
Two names that had been floated around frequently before the deadline, PG Raymond Felton and SG Jamal Crawford, are still a part of the team. Felton has been awful this season, and has likely played himself out of town following the season. Crawford has done what he always does: shoot his team into (and out of) games. Being a volume shooter, Crawford relies largely on isolation moves, which causes the offense to stagnate. With a $5 million player option for 2012-2013, its highly likely Crawford opts out and signs with a team that will be in contention.
This offseason, Portland will likely have between $20-$25 million in cap space, and could use that to pursue a top-tier free agent (PG Deron Williams?). While the Trail Blazers basketball won't have as many wins as fans have become accustomed to over the past three seasons, the team has taken the right step, and the future could again look bright.
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