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The Trail Blazers Are Built to Survive a Potential NBA Lockout

By Steven Dewald

Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Trail Blazers took a major step back after the last labor stoppage, but the current roster is better equipped to deal with a potential NBA lockout.

The NBA is enjoying a time of unprecedented wealth, which means that a new labor agreement is probably on the horizon. The current agreement between the NBA and the Players’ Association runs through 2021, but the new influx of money (record breaking TV deal) could result in a renewed discussion about how the league splits it’s revenue. Both sides can opt out of the deal as early as this coming summer, and either side must make their intentions clear by December. Anytime the stakes are high, the possibility of a work stoppage exists. The last lockout occurred prior to the 2011-12 season, and the results weren’t pretty for the Trail Blazers.

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Lockouts aren’t a good thing for any team, but they are extremely damaging to a team that is going through a roster makeover. That was the situation the Trail Blazers were entering the 2011-12 campaign with. Portland parted ways with Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, and Rudy Fernandez in the summer leading up to the season. They replaced them with the likes of Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton. That resulted in the team going from a 48-34 record in 2010-11 to a subpar 28-38 record in 2011-12.

After enjoying modest success to start the campaign, the wheels came completely off in the second month of the season. It led to the Trail Blazers stripping down their team and firing their head coach (Nate McMillan). Portland was attempting to put a band-aid on a serious wound entering the year and the lockout only added to the bleeding.

Portland Trail Blazers guards C.J. McCollum (3) and Damian Lillard (0) have the chemistry to survive a potential NBA lockout . Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers guards C.J. McCollum (3) and Damian Lillard (0) have the chemistry to survive a potential NBA lockout . Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The outlook for the current Trail Blazers roster is much brighter – even if a lockout occurs prior to the 2017-18 season. Being prepared for a work stoppage comes down to having the right group together at the right time. Portland continues to set the bar for offseason chemistry building, as they’re currently enjoying their second straight non-mandatory team trip to San Diego. Much of last year’s success revolved around Portland’s ability to hit the ground running with a completely new group.

Can you imagine how much different last year would have been if a work stoppage had occurred prior to the season? Luckily for the Trail Blazers, that wasn’t the case. A potential NBA lockout starting in 2017 wouldn’t have the same adverse effects on this roster. Only two major players will be heading into the next offseason with contract uncertainty (Mason Plumlee, Festus Ezeli), which means that Portland’s chemistry should remain relatively unchanged.

On top of having the team remain mostly intact, the Trail Blazers will be led by their strong guard tandem. As mentioned above, the guard turnover prior to the 2011-12 season was a hurdle that was impossible for Portland to overcome. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum will maintain their leadership roles regardless of a work stoppage

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Nobody wants to see a lockout, but it should be reassuring to Trail Blazers fans that their team is in a better position this time around. While other teams are scrambling to put together their rosters in a shortened offseason – Portland will be able to enter the season with a nearly complete squad.