FanPost

The Missing Piece?

It seems that a lot of people are interested in what borderline All-Star Portland can acquire with the cap money that will be available in the next few seasons, or via a trade using RLEC + a promising young piece or two as trade bait.

But, when looking around at the League and what it takes to win a title, I think the notion that the Blazers need/should bring in another borderline All-Star player to put us over the top is both wishful thinking, and may do more harm than good in the process.

The historical trend in winning NBA titles is to have 2--or 3-- stars and then a team of well-constructed role players to surround them. Well, Portland has its 'big 2' (or 3, when/if Oden fully develops), so what would bringing in another big-time player who demands the ball (not to mention key salary cap room space) do?

So, what will it take to get this current Blazer team over the top, besides just growing as a team, and as individual talents, over the next few years? I would argue that the Blazers would be well served to go out and get a lock-down perimeter defender who can guard the likes of Kobe, T-Mac, et al. come playoff time, and knock down some opportune threes on offense. Defense wins in the playoffs, and the Blazer's perimeter defenders are lackluster at best currently. Now, maybe eventually Nic Batum could be that guy, and this point will be moot. But if that guy is out there, I think he could be the missing piece to help Portland contend for the title in 2-3 years (think: James Posey).

Thoughts?