Ed Davis is facing a daunting proposition coming into his eighth year in the league and his third with the Portland Trail Blazers. He played his last game of the season on Feb. 23 but had to get offseason arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder to repair an injured labrum, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.
“The surgery and rehab went well,” Davis told Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune. “I'm glad I got the surgery done. I gave it my all this summer. I'll come into camp 100 percent. I'm good to go.”
“Being immobilized for so long and then working your way back is a process. But I've been able to do pretty much everything since mid-July. I'll be fully ready by the start of camp.”
The acquisition of Jusuf Nurkic came at a timely stretch of the season, providing the team with the necessary boost to make the playoffs, despite being eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. However, Nurkic now presents an even bigger problem for Davis, who will have to fight for minutes with a crowded frontcourt. Fully aware of this predicament, Davis noted that Nurkic “adds toughness, skill and a big body. He's one of the elite starting centers in the league.”
Coming into a contract year, the lefty big man would love to start, but is willing to take whatever role is necessary to propel the team forward once again.
“That's up to (coach Terry) Stotts to make those decisions,” Davis said. “Our job as players is to be ready. I want to have a big year, to help the team as much as I can. I want to stay healthy and play a big role this season. Hopefully, we can have a great season and go far in the playoffs.”
“However Stotts uses me, I'll be ready to play. I'm a team-first guy. Whenever I'm called, I'll be ready.”
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