2019-20 Portland Trail Blazers

2018-19: 53-29 (Conference finals runner-up)
Draft picks: 25

Signed for next season ($126m): Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Evan Turner, Jusuf Nurkic, Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Zach Collins, Skal Labisserie, Anfernee Simons, Gary Trent
This squad made the Western Conference final and while I don't think it was a fluke, I do think it will be really hard to repeat because the West will have 5-6 tough outs in next year's playoffs. The Blazers are already over the cap and while they pretty much have their team ready to go, they will have to replace or re-sign some of the supporting cast.


This summer's free agents: Al-Farouq Aminu, Rodney Hood, Seth Curry, Jake Layman, Enes Kanter
All of these guys contributed...a little....none of them are irreplaceable but the aggregate will need an overhaul.
I like Aminu--fun fact that everyone seems to forget about Aminu: he was the last guy to shut down James Harden (Rockets over Mavs in 2015, Aminu made Harden work), which ought to make him valuable to the Rockets if no one else. I can see Aminu with the Lakers, Nuggets or Jazz, maybe even Mavs or Pelicans. He'll work somewhere and probably get paid at least as well as Portland, so I don't figure he'll be back.
Hood was a rental and though he played pretty well, I don't see him coming back either (perhaps to the Pelicans, the new home of Duke recruits).
Curry is a fascinating player to have on your roster, I got a feeling the Mavs bring him back.
Layman had moments and the Blazers have a much better opinion of him than I could, so if they want him back I reckon he'll be back.
Kanter, too, was a rental and wants probably a lot more than the Blazers would give (kinda thought Kanter would be perfect for the Nuggets if they move on from Millsap).


#25 is not the sexiest pick in the draft but it could bring back a nice prospect like Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga), if he can defend like Aminu and shoot like Hood, he'd be a perfect fit.


Next year's lineup:
PG Lillard, SG McCollum, SF Turner, PF Nurkic, C Collins with Simons, Trent, Leonard, Harkless, Labissierie off the bench.

Lillard has been phenomenal the last two years, if he keeps the prime going, the Blazers will be good and have a shot in the West. I'd put the Blazers 4th-5th in the West for now.