NBA JAM: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neil Acharya looks at the Northwest Division, specifically the Portland Trail Blazers.

Last season: 21-61, 15th in Western Conference
Coach: Nate McMillan
New faces: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Jamaal Magloire
Funny-looking white guy: Dan Dickau
Blogs: Blazer's Edge

You could do an entire separate write-up on the moves Blazers GM Steve Patterson made on Draft Day 2006.

Can you blame the guy? Hired in May, Patterson inherited a team that finished dead last in the NBA and lost 19 of its last 20 games. They let go of Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and hulking European centre Victor Khryapa. Patterson made a series of trades and ended up with two lottery picks, which he used to select power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and shooting guard Brandon Roy.

The new-look Blazers are still inexperienced in the backcourt but have a lot of potential. Juan Dixon played well down the stretch and Jarrett Jack will get more meaningful minutes this year. Meantime, the Blazers hope Roy, last seen leading the Washington Huskies to the brink of the Elite Eight in last year's NCAA tournament, will prove that it was worth it to trade up from the No. 7 to the No. 6 pick to get him in Blazers black and red.

Up front, Portland is much deeper. The centre spot will be in constant focus. Toronto native Jamaal Magloire was acquired and it will be interesting to see how coach Nate McMillan uses him, since Portland also has centre Joel Przybilla, recently inked to a big-money five-year deal. Magloire faced a similar situation in Milwaukee with Andrew Bogut last year. To top it off, Aldridge also needs playing time. Depending on how the season goes, it would not be a stretch to see one of these centres moved, and it could very well be Magloire.

The benefits of the off-season moves are going to be directly felt by Zach Randolph, who carried the load for last year's injury-riddled lineup. Small forward Darius Miles is also back after injuries limited him to 23 games in '05-06.

Portlanders won't be partying like it's 1977 (the year Bill Walton led the franchise to its only championship) come June, but Portland will improve on last year's NBA-low 21 wins. Why? Because they have depth. Look to them to improve on their 3-13 division record and their league-worst 6-35 road record.

Remember, the Northwest was the only division in the West with only one playoff team in '05-06. Although the rebuilding effort will require patience, it will be made much easier for the Blazers due to the weakness of their division.

Also in Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Seattle Supersonics, Utah Jazz
Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neil__acharya@hotmail.com.