Welcome to Rip City

After the conclusion of the 2012 NBA draft, the Blazers has kept 3 of the 4 picks. #6 Damien Lillard, point guard out of Weber State University, #11 Meyers Leonard, center out of the University of Illinois and #40 Will Barton, shooting guard of out the University of Memphis. NBA analysts have regarded this as one of the better picks as the Blazers have selected the best point guard in the 2012 draft class and the consensus second best center.

Here is wishing good luck to the Blazers in the upcoming season!

Trail Blazers Team Overview

2011-12 record: 28-38
Fourth place, Northwest Division
Did not make the playoffs

DRAFT PICKS:

Round: 1

#6 Damian Lillard

#11 Meyers Leonard

Round: 2

#40 Will Barton

#41 Tyshawn Taylor (Traded to Brooklyn Nets)

Areas of Strength:
Flexibility. With a roster ravaged by injuries, attrition and just about anything else that could go wrong for a team, the Trail Blazers enter the draft armed with two first round picks and two more in the second round that give them the flexibility to use whatever avenue they deem best to overhaul the roster. There are no healthy untouchables on the roster heading into the draft. And a new general manager will look to put his stamp on this team one way or another.

Needs Work:
How does everywhere strike you? The Trail Blazers' best player, All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, is recovering from a season-ending injury and needs help on every front. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done up and down this roster.

Two Stats That Matter:
7 -- The Trail Blazers' losing streak to finish the season, the worst in the Western Conference.
15.1 -- J.J. Hickson's scoring average in 19 games with Portland after being claimed off waivers, a career-high for the restricted free agent.

The Way To Go:
When you fire your coach, gut the roster and announce to the basketball world that you are rebuilding again, most everyone assumes you mean the draft. But even with two lottery picks and four overall, the Blazers have not ruled out improving their lot by any means necessary. With big names on the market and the free agent pool solid at several positions, they can be as active as they want to be in this latest rebuild.

2011-12 Team Stats:
Offensive: 97.2 (16th)
Defensive: 97.8 (18th)