The Portland Trail Blazers will enter the 2019-20 season looking starkly different from the roster they presented during the Western Conference Finals, as seven of their players are now no longer present.
While the core of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic is still there, the Blazers traded Evan Turner for Kent Bazemore; Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard for Hassan Whiteside.
Another quality guy leaves the Portland locker room. Jake was as nice as they come, and proved last year he can play. Blazers have lost 7 players off last year's WCF team (Layman, Curry, Kanter, Turner, Harkless, Leonard and Aminu) https://t.co/FXvSUfaqgx
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 4, 2019
Free agents like Seth Curry (Dallas Mavericks), Enes Kanter (Boston Celtics), Al-Farouq Aminu (Orlando Magic), and most recently Jake Layman (Minnesota Timberwolves) have now departed to other destinations, giving this roster a near overhaul.
Portland did however manage to keep its most important asset by re-signing Rodney Hood to a two-year deal, while acquiring capable shooters like Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver.
General manager Neil Olshey is hoping to surround the dynamic backcourt duo of Lillard and McCollum with plenty of shooters — an area that has hurt the Blazers when neither of the two stars have their shot falling.
Olshey expects most of the team's offseason moves to come via trade — yet the most important one is the elephant in the room that most have long foreseen making his way to Rip City.
Portland has shown interest in Lake Oswego native Kevin Love, though his beefy four-year, $120 million contract could prove tough to acquire. The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown little interest in trading him, but a few months into the NBA season could have them reconsider that position.
The Blazers would be delighted to have Love playing near the grounds that made him a high school legend in Oregon, though only if he comes at the right price.
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