Revamping the Portland Trailblazers

After the Portland Trailblazers finished the 2003 NBA playoffs with yet another first round loss, everyone expected major off-season roster changes. Here are 14 issues to keep in mind while transforming the roster.

1. Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells

Despite Bonzi's inconsistent play this past season, some think he can overcome his motivation and attitude problems. However, if Bonzi continues to emulate Rasheed's odd behavior, he will be a lost cause.

2. Rasheed Wallace and Zach Randolph

Zach is a young, talented power forward. Zach looks up to Wallace , who will probably teach Randolph a great deal about the NBA. However, the Blazers cannot afford to let Randolph learn Wallace's attitude. Randolph's late-season sucker punch of Ruben Patterson during practice (forever to be known as "The Punch") is an obvious warning sign.

3. Rasheed Wallace and Arvydas Sabonis

This situation has been quiet since Wallace threw a towel in Sabonis' face two years ago. But everyone suspects lingering bad blood. Sabonis' desire to spend next year with his family in Europe may solve this problem.

4. Point guard Damon Stoudamire and point guard Scottie Pippen

If both players are on the roster, neither will play starting point guard minutes, and neither will be happy. Each can be a valuable starter. If the Blazers want a full contribution from either player, one will need a new address.

5. Jeff McInnis, Antonio Daniels, and Damon Stoudamire

These point guards have the talent to play at least half of every game. Even if coach Maurice Cheeks uses a small lineup and rotates his point guards to other positions, there is no room for each to play 20-40 minutes a night. Someone has to go.

6. Derek Anderson and Bonzi Wells

When one scores, the other doesn't. Both have solid all-around games, but these high-flying swingmen are way too similar.

7. Zach Randolph and Ruben Patterson

Obviously, The Punch was a defining moment for the Blazers. Patterson never recovered from the embarrassment of being sucker punched while restrained by teammates. Patterson's promise not to retaliate until his probation expired in May speaks volumes about his character.

8. Qyntel Woods and Ruben Patterson

The Punch followed an in-practice incident between Woods and Patterson. After teammates restrained Patterson to keep him away from Woods, Zach Randolph punched Patterson. The Blazers need to defuse this volatile situation before more incidents take place.

9. Scottie Pippen and Rasheed Wallace

Pippen hinted that he would stay only if certain events transpire. One such event must be the dumping of Wallace. Is there any doubt that Pippen was one of the "anonymous" veterans who complained about certain teammates' attitudes late in the season?

10. Scottie Pippen and Bob Whitsitt

Until recently, Pippen was sure Trader Bob did not plan to talk to him about re-signing, let alone actually re-signing him. Pippen criticized management throughout the year, and it seemed that he would stay in Portland only out of loyalty to coach Cheeks and a few teammates. Now that Trader Bob is no longer the General Manager/President, Pippen might stay if new President Steve Patterson and the yet-to-be-named G.M. are independent from the man they replace.

11. Qyntel Woods on the playoff roster

This is not a roster change, but it is worth pointing out. Even factoring Derek Anderson's injury into the mix, the Blazers' playoff roster contained three point guards (each occasionally played shooting guard), two shooting guards (one of whom played small forward), two small forwards (one of whom played point guard), two power forwards (one of whom played small forward), and two centers. Essentially, the Blazers entered the playoffs with 8.5 players at the 1, 2, and three positions. Woods is very talented, and he needs to gain experience. But this playoff roster signaled that management cared more about giving experience to a rookie than having a balanced roster capable of advancing. Against Dallas, having Chris Dudley or Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje on the roster would have kept Dale Davis and Sabonis fresh. Dudley or Boumtje-Boumtje could have handled Raef LaFrentz, Shawn Bradley, and Evan Eschmeyer down low. Who can't?

12. Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace

A yellow Hummer was pulled over between Seattle and Portland after a Sonics-Blazers game. Walalce and Stoudamire were inside the car, smoking marijuana with a friend. They know better.

13. Damon Stoudamire and Portland

This Portland native is tired of going to area nightclubs, and locals are sick of his drug problems. He played well in the playoffs, and he will be missed if his replacement is no better than Jeff McInnis, but now is the time to say thank you and goodbye. Trade him after his stock-improving playoff performance.

14. The Injured List

Perhaps Dudley performed a valuable service by restraining Patterson so he could not chase Zach Randolph immediately following The Punch, but what else did the three players carried on the injured list all season do for the team? Did Dudley, Smith, or Boumtje-Boumtje get enough playing time to make a difference on the court or even show the coaching staff whether they can play? Was the injured list full because other teams were jealous of these extra "12" men? The Blazers' use of the injured list is similar to the New York Yankees' player hoarding, except the Yankees have been more successful in keeping talented players from joining rival teams late in the season.