Portland Trailblazers Dream Team

 As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy those odds. 

The Portland Trailblazers were established in 1970 and did not record a winning record until the 1976-1977 campaign. That season, the Blazers reached the NBA summit, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 for the NBA championship. Since that season, the Blazers have been like a hurdler that is always in the race but never wins it. The Los Angeles, and San Antonio Spurs to a lesser extent, were the biggest road blocks. The franchise returned to the NBA Finals twice in the 1990s before losing to the Detroit Pistons 4-1 in 1990 and 4-2 to the Chicago Bulls in 1992. 

When choosing a name for the franchise, the most popular choice was “Pioneers,” but Lewis & Clark College (Portland) already occupied that name. The name “Trailblazers” was ultimately selected to depict explorers making paths through forests so as to depict the ruggedness of the Pacific Northwest. The name, however, has been frequently shortened to “Blazers.” 

Though Oregon Ducks college football has become exceedingly more popular over the past two decades, the Blazers remain the state of Oregon’s lone professional sports franchise. 

Today, I put together a Blazers Dream Team. There are some rigid criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have played for the Blazers for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions. Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team. This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Blazers during a season of being a contender does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the Sonics/Thunder during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific, after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starters

Point guard: Damian Lillard

Having recently completed his ninth NBA season, Lillard's legacy is still in progress but he might be the best player in franchise history when his career ends. Lillard staying loyal to Portland is admirable in an era small market stars beg their way out of town. Even if Lillard kicked and screamed his way out of Portland, he’s the best point guard in franchise history, no questions asked. 

Lillard is a five-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA (one as a first-teamer),  NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013 and NBA All Rookie first team that same season. Lillard is one of two players in franchise history, along with Clyde Drexler, to reach at least five All-Star games. In his career, Lillard is averaging 24.2 points, and 6.5 assists per game.

Shooting guard: Clyde Drexler

At the present time, you would be hard-pressed to name anybody other than Drexler the best player in franchise history. Drexler was nicknamed “The Glide” because of his incredible athleticism and easy going demeanor. Drexler played 12 of his 15 seasons with the Blazers, the other three with the Houston Rockets, for whom he helped win two NBA championships.

Drexler is a Hall of Famer who averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game in his time with the Blazers. Drexler is a 10 time All Star and 5 time All NBA (one as a first-teamer). Drexler holds the NBA record for most offensive rebounds by a guard in his career. Drexler led the Blazers to a pair of NBA Finals appearances. 

Small forward: Clifford Robinson

In a sense, Robinson was ahead of his time. Though he played from 1989-1997 with the Blazers, Robinson’s style of play would fit perfectly as a stretch-four in today's game. There was very little he couldn't do as he was a solid young shooter, he could drive to the basket and play defense. 

Robinson earned only one All-Star appearance but should have learned more and was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1993. Robinson also played for four other teams besides the Blazers. In his career, Robinson averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Robinson played a mixture of small forward, power forward and Center but he deserves a spot in the starting lineup somewhere. 

Power forward: Maurice Lucas

Lucas and Bill Walton formed an outstanding frontcourt that helped the Blazers win the 1976-1977 NBA championship. Though Lucas played only five seasons with the Blazers, he was still one of the best players in franchise history, which is more than enough to land him in the starting lineup with this team.

Two of Lucas's four career All-Star appearances came in a Blazers uniform. In 1977-1978, Lucas was second-team All-NBA and NBA All-Defensive first-team. In his seasons with the Blazers, Lucas averaged 15.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and he also averaged 3.1 assists per game. 

Center: Bill Walton

You would be hard-pressed to find a more popular player in Blazer history. Though Walton is a Hall of Famer, much of his legacy involves what he could have been. His time as a high-level NBA player was limited due to the numerous nagging foot injuries throughout his career. Walton, however, is very deserving of a spot in the starting lineup.

Walton's career with the Blazers was only four years but it was very impactful. Both of his All-Star appearances came in a Blazer uniform. He helped deliver the franchise its only NBA Championship in 1977 and he was also the NBA Finals MVP. Walton was the MVP of the NBA in 1978. In his four Seasons with the Blazers, Walton averaged 17.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.6 blocked shots. 

Bench (alphabetical order)

LaMarcus Aldridge: While Aldridge has spent his last five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, and Blazer fans were less than fond of his decision to leave, Aldridge provided moments of greatness in his career in Portland. Aldridge was a four-time All-Star and scored 12,562 points. In 2013-2014, Aldridge helped the Blazers get past the first round for the first time since 1999. Four of Aldridge's seven All-Star appearances came as a Blazer. He averaged 19.4 points in 8.4 rebounds in Portland. 

Jerome Kersey: Kersey's 17-year career came with six different teams but was most synonymous with the Blazers, for whom he played 11 years. Kersey was a second-round draft pick from Linwood College, a Div. III school. Kersey along with Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler and Kevin Duckworth became a key nucleus for the franchise appearing in two NBA finals in three years. In his career with the Blazers, Kersey averaged 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Kersey was also part of the 1999 San Antonio Spurs NBA championship.

CJ McCollum: Though Lillard grabs a lot of the headlines, McCollum and Lillard have formed elite NBA backcourt for the better part of the last seven years. McCollum is the first player in NBA history to come from a private school, Lehigh. McCollum was voted the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2016. In his career with the Blazers he has averaged 18.5 points 3.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds per contest. 

Jim Paxson: Paxson played nine of his 11 seasons with the Blazers. He was a two-time All-Star and it happened in back-to-back seasons in 1983 and 1984. He was also All-NBA second team in 1984. At the time the Blazers traded him to the Boston Celtics after the 1988 season, Paxton was the franchise's all-time leading scorer. In his career, Paxson averaged 14.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. 

Geoff Petrie: Petrie was the first great player in the history of the franchise. Petrie averaged over 24 points a game on three occasions in his only six seasons with the Blazers. Though he was not part of the 1977 NBA championship team, he had some sweat equity in the franchise getting there. Petrie was a two-time All-Star in the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1971. In his career, he averaged 21.8 points per game and 4.6 assists 

Terry Porter:

Until Lillard established his greatness, Porter would have been the starting point guard on this team and he is one of the most adored players in franchise history to Blazer fans. Porter, however, deserves a spot on this roster. Porter ran the offense efficiently and was a solid shooter as he averaged 14.9 points per game, 7.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per contest in his career as a Blazer. Porter was a two-time All-Star who helped the Blazers reach the NBA Finals twice in a stretch of three seasons. 

Brandon Roy:

Roy played six of his seven NBA seasons with the Blazers. While his injury-riddled career leaves one to wonder what Roy could have been, he also did more than enough good things to land a spot on this roster. Roy was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2007 and NBA All-Rookie first team as well. He was a three-time All-Star. In his career, Roy averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Arvydas Sabonis: 

Though he only played seven seasons in the NBA, Sabonis is one of the best European players in NBA history. Sabonis, however, played professional basketball for 22 years if you include his years of playing in Europe. Sabonis was inducted into the Hall of Fame and was one of the first perimeter shooting centers  to shoot 3-point shots. He was a very skilled passer. During his NBA career, Sabonis averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. 

Rasheed Wallace: 

To put it charitably, Wallace was a powder keg as he set the single-season record for technical fouls in 2000-2001. Wallace, however, had a very accomplished NBA career with the Blazers and later helped the Detroit Pistons win an NBA title in 2004. Wallace helped the franchise two back-to-back Western Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. In a Blazers uniform, Wallace was a two-time NBA All-Star and averaged 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game 

Buck Williams: 

Though his time in Portland did not feature All Star level play as it did with his previous team, the New Jersey Nets, Williams was the perfect complement to the likes of Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler. Williams helped the Blazers reach two NBA finals in three years. While with Portland, Williams was a three-time NBA All-Defensive selection, two as a first-teamer. Williams brought a lunch bucket mentality as a rebounder. With the Blazers, he averaged 10.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest,  and 1.5 block shots. 

Head coach: Jack Ramsay. 

Rick Adelman and Terry Stotts have each had very successful careers leading the Blazers. However, until another head coach leads them to a championship, one will be hard pressed to uspurp Ramsey. He coached the Blazers to 453 of his 864 career coaching wins  In the regular season. Ramsey also guided the Blazers to 29 more postseason wins including the 1976-1977 championship. Before Ramsey arrived the Blazers had not made the playoffs or had a winning record in their history. Ramsey is in the Hall of Fame as a coach and is probably among the top 10-15 of all time in NBA history.

Team: 1976-1977. 

The Blazers have been a consistent playoff participant in their franchise's history but as far as the best team is concerned, you would be hard-pressed to go any other way than the one that delivered the lone championship. The 49-33 regular-season record, which netted the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, may not appear impressive. The Blazers, however, got healthy at the right time and were very impressive in the postseason. In the Western Conference playoffs, the Blazers  defeated the Chicago Bulls 2-1, the Denver Nuggets 4-2, and swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals. In the NBA finals, the Blazers lost the first two games against the Philadelphia 76ers before winning four consecutive contests to deliver the NBA championship.