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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: The Blazers remain the Blazers

By Trevor Magnotti

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 05: Damian Lillard #0 (R) of the Portland Trail Blazers talks with CJ McCollum #3 and Jusuf Nurkic #27 during the first half of the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 5, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 05: Damian Lillard #0 (R) of the Portland Trail Blazers talks with CJ McCollum #3 and Jusuf Nurkic #27 during the first half of the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 5, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 1: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves jump for the rebound on March 1, 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 1: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves jump for the rebound on March 1, 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Center

Starter: Jusuf Nurkic

Bench: Meyers Leonard, Chinanu Onuaku

Nurkic disappointed after his hot end to the 2016-17 season, and his productivity and defense regressed throughout last year. The Blazers are committed to him long-term now, and that initial version of Nurkic is the guy they need. They need a guy who can protect the rim behind the Blazers’ guards, provide a reliable pick-and-roll threat, and control the glass, especially when Aminu is off the floor. Nurkic ideally can be all of those things, and another year of development could mean he becomes more consistent as the Blazers’ anchor. That remains to be seen, though.

Meet the 2018 NBA 25-under-25. dark. Next

Leonard, meanwhile, is another avatar of Blazers’ fans frustrations with the front office, because he struggled in his first year after getting paid in 2016, and then lost all of last season to injury. At his peak, Leonard was a successful pick-and-pop threat with some passing ability who helped out the bench offense; but he’s been more harmful than helpful thanks to his defensive limitations of late. If Chinanu Onuaku can have a strong camp showing and earn a roster spot, he might be more helpful than Leonard as a rim protector and lob threat, but as of now the ceiling on the bench at the five is fairly low.