The Blazers still have high hopes for 21-year old Greg Oden. He played in 61 games for the Trailblazers last season and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. The Blazers would like to get Oden up over 30 minutes per game this season to see what he can really do. 30-year old Joel Przybilla will back up Oden again this season and he was solid for the Blazers last year. Przybilla played in all 82 games for the Blazers last season and he averaged 23.8 minutes, 5.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Expect him to play well again for the Trailblazers next season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2009-2010: B

The Trailblazers have just locked up 24-year old power forward LaMarcus Aldridge to a long term contract. Aldridge played in 81 games for the Blazers last season and he averaged 37.1 minutes, 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He could up his scoring average if the Blazers needed him to but they likely won’t. 36-year old Juwan Howard will likely start the season as Aldridge’s back up at power forward. He played in 42 games for the Nuggets & Bobcats last season in which he averaged 11.2 minutes, 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. The Blazers likely would take those averages out of Howard this season and be happy with it. 22-year old Jeff Pendergraph was the first pick of the 2nd round by the Kings. He came over in the Sergio Rodriguez trade with the Kings. He is 6′9″, 240 pounds and he has a nose for the basketball off the rim and backboard. 22-year old Dante Cunningham will also be in line for playing time at power forward this season. He was the 3rd pick of the 2nd round of the NBA Draft last June out of Villanova.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: B

The Portland Trailblazers have a talented young trio of players at small forward but none of them are impact players. 20-year old defensive ace Nicolas Batum will be the starter at small forward for the Blazers this season. He played in 79 games for the Blazers last season and he averaged 18.4 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Look for similar production out of Batum this season as the Blazers have to split up the minutes at small forward. 25-year old Travis Outlaw is the best offensive player of this group. He played in 81 games for the Blazers last season and he averaged 27.7 minutes, 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. 22-year old Martell Webster is back after playing only 5 minutes last season (without scoring) in 1 game before injuring himself and missing the rest of the year. Webster has played in 219 games in his career with the Blazers and he has averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: B

25-year old Brandon Roy reminds me a lot of D-Wade. If the were more selfish he could easily average 5 more points per game. Roy played in 78 games for the Blazers last season and he averaged 37.2 minutes, 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Look for him to be a All-Star this season for the Trailblazers. 24-year old Rudy Fernandez will back up Roy this season and he is also an outstanding player who would start for a lot of teams in this league. He played in 78 games for the Trailblazers last season and he averaged 25.6 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He is also an outstanding shooter from long range hitting 39.9% of his thre point attempts last season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2009-2010: A