Will Chris Kaman settle for a mentor role?

When Chris Kaman signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2014, the intention was for him to come in as the No. 1 option off the bench. He knew this, Head Coach Terry Stotts knew this, and even though it was a step down from his starting role with previous teams, it worked out rather well because everyone was on the same page. Kaman led the Portland bench in points per game (8.6), rebounds per game (6.5), and blocks per game (0.7) in 2014-15. Gradual slowing as the season wore on aside, he functioned exactly as intended.

Kaman even embraced the role of mentor for Meyers Leonard, working with him in the post and teaching him to play more physically. Measuring Leonard’s progress to gage Kaman’s efficacy as a sort of personal coach, it seems that Kaman was equally successful in practice as he was on the floor; a truly valuable, multi-purpose veteran. Kaman was happy with the team, and the team was happy with him, but what happens if his role shifts this season?

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The Trail Blazers have built a deep frontcourt this summer, comprised of mostly high-upside young players in need of playing time. Noah Vonleh, Mason Plumlee, Ed Davis, and possibly Cliff Alexander will now compete for minutes with Kaman and Leonard. Kaman, 33, is expected to fall further in the Trail Blazers’ rotation this year to make room for these additions.

In theory, this means that Kaman will be more valuable to the team as a teacher than a player who can contribute on the court. Given his success with Leonard, it would seem that he is a good fit for this role, but is the role a good fit for him?

The Trail Blazers are probably not going to make the playoffs this year, much less contend. Career-wise, another year in Portland is a waste of Kaman’s time. This is not to say that the team would not benefit, but that Kaman has limited time remaining in which to chase a championship. Idling in his twilight is far from ideal; especially on the deep bench. Kaman has always been a guy that likes to get out and have an impact on the court, so the futility of his situation will not be lost on him.

Dec 31, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers players (from left) Kobe Bryant and Jordan Hill and Chris Kaman and Roert Sacre react in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center. The Bucks defeated the Lakers 94-79. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

His ill-fated season with the Los Angeles Lakers one year prior to signing in Portland was not a remarkably dissimilar situation. He had signed on with a specific role in mind, but saw it diminished due to positional crowding. His frustrations grew to the point that then Head Coach Mike D’Antoni eventually addressed them with the media:

"You have five guys for two positions and 96 minutes, so you’ve got to figure out how to split the minutes up. It’s hard to play when you only play four or five minutes, so we’ve got to figure that out."

D’Antoni never did “figure that out,” and by the end of the season, it was apparent that Kaman had not enjoyed his season of short bursts and intermittent DNPs. Kaman elaborated on his dissatisfaction in his exit interview:

"I tried to put in the time and stay positive and it just drains on you over the year as it goes. It’s hard to continually stay positive over and over and over when a guy is like, “Come on” but they’re not in the position I’m in, so it was hard. They’re like, “Oh well you can just stay positive,” like it’s easy, you guys are playing and you get to have fun and be in the game when it’s important. For me I just kind of sat there and watched, so something that was hard to do was to be professional and to stay positive the whole time. I would say that I had some lapses, but it was a tough year for me, and it’s kind of one I just want to, like Kobe [Bryant] said, flush it and kind of move forward."

Although the Trail Blazers’ situation is a bit different in that Stotts is not D’Antoni, Kaman stands to, once again, be the odd man out of the five-player, two-position, 96-minute equation. If Kaman wanted to “flush” the last season in which this was an issue, imagine how it must feel knowing that it is bound to repeat, but without playoff aspirations to start the year. The Trail Blazers’ rebuild may be tougher on him than it will be on anyone else.

The hope is that Kaman’s perspective continues to change as his role with the team does. Yet, asking him to buy in is suddenly asking a lot. Realistically, Kaman will play 1-3 more years in the league. Perhaps trading him at the February trade deadline so that year one is not entirely wasted could be mutually beneficial if he becomes disenchanted with his position in Portland. It is at least something to keep in mind as his younger teammates find their feet.

Ultimately, how Kaman adapts to changing circumstances is up to him. He could very well appreciate the opportunity to leave his mark on the next generation of players while getting more rest. Then again, he could understandably lament losing another year of bigger better things. Either way, there are changes ahead for him. He will still have the opportunity to play in Portland, but the days of 19 minutes per game are likely gone, as are the days of title contention. This season will be a tremendous test of patience for him.

Chris Kaman exit interview via Lakers Nation

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