Hanging in the Northwest

1. Portland Trail Blazers – Lots of young talent, great coach, excited fans, wealthy owner. You know by now that I love listing a team’s roster by position so bear with me on this one:

1 – Steve Blake, Jarrett Jack, Sergio Rodriguez
2 – Brandon Roy, Martell Webster,
3 – James Jones, Travis Outlaw
4 – LaMarcus Aldridge, Channing Frye
5 – Joel Przybilla, Raef LaFrentz, Greg Oden

Even if Oden was healthy they wouldn’t have been making the playoffs in his first year but without him they’re definitely going to the lottery. Again. And they should be targeting a capable SF where they’re not very strong … cuz Darius Miles isn’t walking throught that door … at least not any time soon.

2. Seattle Supersonics - I hope they stay in Seattle. Oklahoma City Sonics just doesn't sound right. Lots of reasons to be excited for this young team. However they will need a few more trips to the lottery before they even start thinking about the playoffs. Let's take a closer look:

PG - Luke Ridnour, Earl Watson, Delonte West
SG - Kevin Durant, Damien Wilkins
SF - Wally Szczerbiak, Jeff Green, Mickael Gelabale
PF - Chris Wilcox, Kurt Thomas, Nick Collison,
C - Robert Swift, Johan Petro

The Sonics will be strong on the wings but every other position is problematic. They got 3 average point guards (none of which is suited to be a starter), weak and inexperienced players at center and average power forwards (unless Wilcox surprises everybody and finally becomes a consistent player).

3. Minnesota Timberwolves - Sota has some decent players with upside (Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith and Rashad McCants) and a young core to build around (Al Jefferson, Randy Foye and Corey Brewer), some expiring contracts (Theo Ratliff, Juwan Howard, Ricky Davis, the departed Eddie Griffin (contract comes off the cap after the season) and Sebastian Telfair) and a few deadweight contracts (Mark Blount, Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson, Greg Buckner). If they let the contracts expire they'll have significant cap room next season.

So, what I think they should do is play the young guys as much as possible just to see what they got, maybe package some of the expiring contracts for a proven player (hopefully a shooting guard or a center) if one becomes available or just let those contracts expire and keep building through the draft (which is the best way anyway, especially when you take into account that they'll be picking at the top of the draft for a few more years).

4. Utah Jazz - Trade AK for a shooting guard! Just do it! Otherwise prepare for a dissapointing season.

1 – Deron Williams, Jason Hart,
2 – Gordan Giricek, Ronnie Brewer, Morris Almond
3 – AK , Matt Harpring,
4 – Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap,
5 – Mehmet Okur, Jarron Collins

So, imagine if they traded for a good shooter (someone like say Corey Maggette (and yes I realize their salaries don't match I'm just trying to make a point)). That'd give 'em a starting lineup of D-Will, Mags, Harpring, Boozer and Okur (with Millsap being a valuable 6th man). Not bad huh? I'm sure AK for a shooting guard to be named later is doable.

5. Denver Nuggets - You can just feel the injuries mounting as Denver's name rolls off your tongue. K-Mart had micro fracture surgery on both knees! And Nene is injured all the time. They're over the cap so they can't add significant players. This spells trouble.

1 – AI, Chucky Atkins,
2 – JR Smith
3 – Carmelo Anthony, Linas Kleiza
4 – Nene, K-Mart, Eduardo Najera,
5 – Marcus Camby, Steven Hunter

Do they look like a contender to you? No, I didn't think so.