The Portland Trail Blazers, coming off an improbable second-round playoff run after losing four starters last offseason, are not content to rest up and pat themselves on the back for a job well done this year. After extending coach Terry Stotts, the Blazers plan to enter the fray of the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency.
However, the team does not own a selection in this year's draft at the moment. Their first-round pick was re-routed to the Denver Nuggets, and their second-round pick was traded to the Chicago Bulls. But that won't stop general manager Neil Olshey from making moves.
"We always have a draft pick; we work for Paul Allen," Olshey said.
One week after the draft, free agency will open on July 1. Olshey is planning to sell Portland as a rising star to the top available players. In recent years, location has become less crucial in the free agent sales pitch across the NBA. With the salary cap spiking this offseason due to the NBA's new lucrative TV deal, Olshey has as good of a chance to land a difference-maker as anyone.
"The easy way out is to say, 'Hey we are in a non-destination market, we aren't going to play in that pond," Olshey said. "I don't think that is true...We just need to get the first domino to fall."
The Blazers proved this year that they can be a force in the Western Conference. Point guard Damian Lillard is a bona fide franchise player, and guard C.J. McCollum won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award this year. They battled hard against the record-setting Golden State Warriors in the second-round and may be just a few pieces away from becoming serious contenders.
It is now on Olshey to find those necessary pieces in the draft and free agency.
"There's still work to be done," Olshey said. "We'll look for upgrades. We'll find ways to continue to build the roster."
Portland will have around $20 million to $25 million in salary-cap space this offseason to invest in free agents or acquire players via trade.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
