ESPN Panel Offers Early Predictions for 2019-20 Season

Anticipation is building for the 2019-20 NBA season with the start of training camp on the horizon. While no one knows how the season will shake out, an ESPN panel voted on key questions for the upcoming season, with the Portland Trail Blazers being mentioned a couple of times:

• Portland made the “others receiving votes” category for “Who is the NBA’s next team turmoil?” along with the Thunder, Bulls, Knicks and Warriors. The Rockets (21.2% first-place votes) and Lakers (27.3% first-place votes) were the top two vote-getters, followed by the Nets, 76ers, Wizards and Heat.
• CJ McCollum was in the “others receiving votes” group for “Who are the most likely first-time All-Stars?” The panel picked Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Devin Booker as the most likely to get an All-Star nod.
• Damian Lillard was in the “others receiving votes” group for the question about MVP this season. He trailed five other Western Conference stars: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard.
• The Blazers were slotted No. 7 in the West standings this year with a record of 47-35. They trailed, in order, the Nuggets, Clippers, Rockets, Jazz, Lakers and Warriors.