The Portland Trail Blazers don't have many questions about their roster heading into 2014-15. After rebuilding the depth of this team a year ago, making it to the second round of the playoffs last season, and essentially swapping out Mo Williams for Steve Blake as the backup point guard this summer, the Blazers were headed in the right direction and set for next season without much to do. The last bit of business to take care of was deciding whether or not to guarantee the contract of Will Barton.
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian tells us the team has officially let Barton's deal become fully guaranteed by not waiving him before Thursday's deadline. The Blazers now have 15 players under contract for the 2014-15 season, meaning there isn't any change they can do to the roster unless they decide to eat a guaranteed deal or make a trade.
The Trail Blazers' 15-man roster was officially settled Thursday morning, when Will Barton's 2014-15 contract became fully guaranteed.
General manager Neil Olshey had the option of waiving the backup shooting guard this summer to create an open roster spot. But by keeping him on the roster until Thursday, Olshey ensured that his burgeoning talent would remain in Portland for at least one more season.
Barton played in 41 games for the Blazers in 2013-14 after being the 40th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged just 4.0 points in 9.4 minutes while shooting 41.7 percent from the field. He played in seven playoff games for the Blazers, scoring 6.4 points in 11.6 minutes while making 50.0 percent of his shots and 54.5 percent of his 3-pointers.
The Blazers go into training camp and likely the regular season with Damian Lillard, Steve Blake, C.J. McCollum, Wesley Matthews, Will Barton, Allen Crabbe, Nicolas Batum, Dorell Wright, Victor Claver, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Freeland, Thomas Robinson, Robin Lopez, Meyers Leonard, and Chris Kaman. The next question they have for their roster is trying to figure out a new contract with Aldridge, but he'll likely become a free agent before that happens. He's expressed interest in returning to the Blazers, but as a free agent to maximize his earning potential.
Basketball Hot News
Report: Mason Plumlee likely to make Team USA roster over DeMarcus Cousins
Mason Plumlee is a promising NBA big man who averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in a limited role during his rookie season with the Brooklyn Nets.
It should go without saying that he is nowhere near the on-court talent that is DeMarcus Cousins.
But USA Basketball is a funny thing, in that qualities like being in the program from a young age and having a pristine attitude can sometimes be more important than pure skill, and the latest report about who might make the final 12-man roster that will compete in the World Championships later this summer would certainly be a reflection of those tenets, should it come to pass.
From Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:
2 things from Team USA: post practice games between Durant/Harden/George are epic; Mason Plumlee likely to make team over DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins has a long history of inappropriate behavior on the basketball court, despite being one of the game’s top talents at his position.
Mike Krzyzewski often mentions other bigs first when discussing who is making an impact at camp in Las Vegas this week.
“The big guys have given good efforts: Drummond, Cousins, even Faried. Then Plumlee, we didn’t expect that (level of performance),” Krzyzewski said, via our own Kurt Helin who is in Vegas with Team USA this week. “He’s going to be in the scrimmage Friday, so we’ll take a look at that.”
Despite the many skills that Cousins possesses, the ones sought after by Team USA in a backup big man role will be energy, defense, and most importantly, filling the required role without becoming a distraction.
If Cousins is left off the team, it will be a sign that his maturity — at least in the eyes of Jerry Colangelo and Coach K — isn’t where it needs to be to represent USA Basketball in international competition.
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