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Avoiding Mediocrity and the Pursuit of Relevance.

By Bryant Verser

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The Trail Blazers struggle to avoid the NBA’s no man’s land.

You win some, you lose some, that’s basketball. The problem for the Trail Blazers this season is that they might not lose enough. I know that sounds crazy, but allow me to elaborate.

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Over the past six seasons there have been a few teams that have been stuck firmly in what I like to call “no man’s land”. The hazy place between playoff team and bottom feeder. The few I refer to are: the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. These teams routinely find themselves on the outside looking in come April, and end up with a rather unattractive draft pick in June. The worst of all out comes, not getting to root for your team in the playoffs, and having no young talent to wait on.

While all three of those teams mentioned above are currently playing well,  the season is still mighty long and fraught with change. None of the teams I’m talking about are bad, but that’s not really a compliment. Detroit and Phoenix in particular are prime examples. Detroit has missed the playoffs each of the last six seasons, and their picks usually fall in the number 7 to 9 range. Phoenix has missed 5 consecutive post seasons, sometime by just a few games. The out come of that has resulted in picking around the 12th pick in the draft every year.

Noah Vonleh, one of the Blazers, and NBAs, youngest players. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t want the Blazers to chase mediocrity, not that any team actively does. Maybe I’m not giving this team enough credit, but I am afraid the Blazers could find there way into “no man’s land”. Let me add that I have great faith in the supernatural powers of Neil Olshey. The man that resurrected the Clippers, longtime residents of no mans land. Even if Olshey fails, and the Blazers only win 36 games a year for the next 40 years I’ll remain a loyal fan. Not that I think that’s what will happen.

Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

I would much rather watch the Blazers take a few lumps and end up with a coveted rookie (Ben Simmons). I’m not saying that I don’t want to see the Blazers win, it’s actually quite the contrary. The current roster is fun to watch and easy to root for. The foundation seems set we just need one more go to player, and where better to obtain one than the draft. The draft is especially appealing for a team like Portland that has yet to ever attract a premier free agent. I fully expect some type of player movement this season, so things could look very different by the end of the year. Chris Kaman and Gerald Henderson (both are attractive to teams looking to win now) are my top picks to be moved this season. Kaman could still help a contender, and Henderson is in his athletic prime.

No one knows what crazy events will transpire as the rest of the season unfolds. There is however one constant for the Blazers, and that is Damian Lillard. At 25 he is entering his prime, and that must be must be taken full advantage of. I know you can’t ask a team to take it easy, but losing now will make us more competitive in the future. Tuesdays game against Chicago is a prime example of what I want this season. A hard fought, competitive, and entertaining game that resulted in a loss.  I don’t want to see a tank mission. I just think it would be wise for the Blazers to think about who gets playing time, and also knowing when throw in the towel.

Even if we traded down in the draft, you get more for a second or third pick than you do for the fourteenth. Flexibility is key, and no mans land provides little in that regard. While internal development and player progression could completely render me wrong it just doesn’t make sense to settle for “not bad”.

This topic is in many ways allegorical to life itself. You always want to strive for the best, never becoming complacent. On the other hand you have to put the time in and get your hands dirty. The Blazers need to pay their dues, and hopefully the basketball gods will smile upon us.