The Portland Trail Blazers are in a transition period now after losing four of their five starters from last year's team and this year's roster is extremely young. Damian Lillard, at age 25, is one of the more veteran players on the team but a lot of their young players have talent and they hope they can become good NBA players. With that in mind the Blazers have picked up the fourth year options on C.J. McCollum and Mason Plumlee and the third year option on Noah Vonleh, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
These moves by the Blazers will ensure that all three of these young players will play at least the next two seasons in Portland. This is big for the Blazers as they are hoping that these young players can grow together to form a nucleus that is perennially contending for the playoffs and championships.
McCollum, 24 years old, was drafted by the Blazers tenth overall in the 2013 NBA Draft but has yet to break out in his first two NBA seasons. Many people expect this to be the year McCollum really arrives on the NBA scene as he is expected to have a huge role and should get plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers. McCollum is expected to be in a competition with Gerald Henderson for the starting shooting guard spot but Henderson is currently dealing with a hip issue so he may have a leg up on that spot. Either way though McCollum will get plenty of minutes and will have the opportunity to show off his tremendous scoring ability.
Plumlee, 25 years old, was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the trade that sent Steve Blake out. Plumlee was a first team selection for the NBA's All-Rookie team two seasons ago and he has great athleticism and is a very good rebounder. Last season Plumlee averaged 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in just 21.3 minutes per game and has also been a member of the Team USA basketball team since last summer. He has a chance to be something special for Portland. Plumlee is expected to compete with Meyers Leonard for the starting center spot but should play a big role no matter what.
Vonleh is the most intriguing of the three players to get his option picked up as he is just 20 years old and has a ton of talent. Vonleh was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2014 NBA Draft and was acquired by the Blazers in the Nicolas Batum trade. Vonleh only played in 25 games a year ago and only averaged 10.4 minutes per game but the Blazers love his potential, his athleticism and his versatility. Vonleh is unlikely to start for the Blazers as they have Ed Davis at power forward but he is a young talented player that will likely have a role this year in Portland.
