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Blazers 10th in probably-way-too-early-to-predict ESPN power rankings

By Matt George Moore

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: Portland Trail Blazers return to the court after a time-out during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: Portland Trail Blazers return to the court after a time-out during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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It seems too early for there to be any sort of quote-unquote “power rankings” for NBA teams. But we’re going to write about it anyway. Content is king.

Although we here at Rip City Project International Headquarters for the Dissemination of All Things Blazers didn’t use capital letters to write “power rankings” in the deck above, we probably should have.

ESPN — the many-tentacled behemoth of sports and entertainment programming here on the planet Earth — does these (capital letter) “Power Rankings” that have become a go-to guide for quick and easy looks at where NBA teams are in relation to the rest of the league.

Portland is No. 10, according to the most recent “Power Rankings.” Golden State is No. 1. The Lakers are in the Top 10 (No. 9, actually) thanks (mostly) to the addition of LeBron James.

Rankings

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At first glance, this seems reasonable. Golden State has only gotten better, yeah?

As Ohm Youngmisuk writes, “(T)he champs set the NBA world on fire with their Thanos-like move by adding DeMarcus Cousins to their gauntlet of All-Stars, making their Death Lineup even more terrifying if the big man can return healthy from an Achilles injury.”

The Lakers have gotten better, too. This tends to happen when you sign the best player in the world.

And Portland? Well, Portland has only gotten … what exactly?

Let’s examine this question.

Blazers

Quick recap: The Blazers lost Shabazz Napier, Ed Davis and Pat Connaughton. The franchise then added rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. via the draft and Nik Stauskas and Seth Curry via free agency signings.

As Royce Young writes about the players Portland lost, “Napier had a breakout season filling in for Damian Lillard” and “Davis is a consistent energy player.” But, Young continues, “their losses can be quickly filled by other in-house options.”

I’m assuming Young means that Napier’s minutes will be taken by Wade Baldwin IV, whose contract was recently guaranteed, Curry or Stauskas. Seems less likely that the bulk of those minutes will go to rookies Simons or Trent Jr. or Jake Layman — but one can hope they’re ready to contribute in a meaningful way.

Davis’ minutes will probably be filled by Zach Collins, who used to be Davis’ battery mate off the bench. Otherwise, it’s a big question mark – several, actually. Is Maurice Harkless ready to pick up the load for a full season? Meyers Leonard? Maybe Caleb Swanigan? History points to a negative answer to all these queries, but again, hope springs eternal.

Too Soon To Tell?

Young also writes about Portland’s “landlocked cap sheet,” making improvement difficult.

“The Blazers appeared to take a big step forward last season before a first-round face plant,” Young writes. “(A)nd with the conservative offseason approach, it looks as if the front office is betting on the finish being a fluke.”

That would be a very Blazer-y, Neil Olshey-y thing to bet on. The Blazers were demolished and dismantled with astonishing, methodical precision by a hungry New Orleans Pelicans team. Do Simons, Trent Jr., Stauskas and Curry make it more or less likely for something like that to happen again?

It may be too early to predict where the Blazers or these other teams in the “Power Rankings” wind up. But from my seat here at the RCP, it looks like the Blazers are treading water.

Next: 5 ways to make the NBA more interesting

I look forward to being pleasantly surprised by a Portland team which suits up next season looking more like a Top 10 “Power Rankings” team than one that gets booted to the curb by the big boys before we even get to New Year’s Day.

But I ain’t holding my breath. Not with those other nine teams in the “Power Rankings” Top 10 anxious to prove they belong ‚— and making big moves to guarantee it.