What Is the Portland Trail Blazers' Missing Piece to the Puzzle?

With the midpoint of the 2008-2009 NBA regular season fast approaching, it comes time to analyze each team on their progress so far. Some squads have set themselves up for huge success this season, while other teams have fallen dangerously below the radar, prompting trades, and coaching and front office changes.

Currently, the Portland Trail Blazers hold a record of 24 wins and 15 losses, which places them in second place in the Northwest Division, and on track to earn the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

The Trail Blazers have had their ups and downs this season, but one of the youngest teams in the NBA to hold the No. 5 seed in the tremendously difficult Western Conference is no small achievement. Many sports analysts around the country projected that the Trail Blazers would be fighting for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

This immensely talented but youthful team has overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Despite losing the team's best three-point shooters in James Jones to the free agency, and Martell Webster to a nagging foot injury, the Trail Blazers have still shot lights out from downtown.

Despite starting the season with the toughest schedule in the NBA, the Trail Blazers  have managed to fall under .500 only twice this season.

Although the Portland Trail Blazers are in a very good position as of late, many questions still linger about the team in general.

Will Greg Oden ever blossom into the big man he is supposed to be? Will Nicholas Batum be able to assume the starting small forward position? Will Jerryd Bayless become the future point guard for the Blazers?

There are many ways to answer these questions, but let's start with the first question.

Greg Oden has battled the pressure of the media this season. The 7'0'' sensation from Ohio State University has had to put up with idiotic statements by fans, league analysts, and independent sports journalists all season long.

He has battled inconsistency, but has shown that he CAN become a game-changing factor for the Blazers. On two separate occasions, Greg Oden has recorded a double-double in three consecutive games.

What many fair-weather fans tend to overlook, are the circumstances surrounding Oden.

First of all, Greg Oden is only 20 years old. He is filled with raw talent, and vast potential, but will need some grooming in order to become the phenom that he will be. Second, he was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Pressure to perform came with the packaged deal.

Thirdly, Oden has not consistently played basketball for over a year and a half, due to a season-ending knee surgery in 2007. What fans cannot do, is to expect that Oden will be an instant-impact player. It will take some time for him to get back into the swing of things.

Nicholas Batum, a 19-year-old Frenchman, has proved that he can handle the pressure that comes with the starting small-forward spot. Batum has shown that he can be a factor on both sides of the ball. He most definitely has an extremely bright future ahead of him.

Ah, Jerryd Bayless. The rookie out of Arizona has come under scrutiny due to his lack of experience at the point guard position. What most people tend to forget is that while Bayless attended the University of Arizona, he was forced to play both the point and two guard spots, due to the lack of experience on the team. This caused him to mainly be a score-first point guard.

As evidenced by last night's game against the New Jersey Nets, Bayless has shown that he can be a leader on the court, and run the Blazers offense effectively. This brings me to my next point: The Jerryd Bayless - Sergio Rodriguez debate.

While Sergio Rodriguez has played more years of professional basketball than Jerryd Bayless has, he should not be included in the long term plans of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Sergio is the kind of point guard the Blazers desire, a past-first guard, but his cravings for attention by way of flashy passing has caused him to turn the ball over too many times. Bayless has shown that he can be the answer to the Blazers' point guard needs.

Now with Steve Blake out at least two weeks with a separated shoulder, the Blazers are down a point guard. Sergio Rodriguez's inconsistency this season has prompted many trade rumors, the latest reporting him being traded to the New York Knicks for PG Nate Robinson, although supposedly more work would be done on the trade.

The way I see it, the Blazers could greatly improve their chances for major success this season with a mid-season trade. There are five players on the Blazers that I just cannot see being in GM Kevin Pritchard's long-term plans for the franchise: Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye, Ike Diogu, Raef LaFrentz, and Shavlik Randolph.

Raef LaFrentz's NBA career is practically finished. He is guaranteed $12,722,500 this season, and will become a free agent after this season. I do not see the Blazers re-signing him, due to the amount of cap space they could generate by letting him go.

Channing Frye has suffered through inconsistent play this season. Do not get me wrong, Frye is a high-character individual, but I do not see him in the Blazers' future. One way that the Blazers could address their needs at PG and PF, would be through a trade.

If could see Kevin Pritchard adding Channing Frye to the Rodriguez/Robinson rumor for New York PF David Lee. This trade would pay major dividends for the Blazers. First, the Blazers would receive a high-quality PG in Nate Robinson, who played with Brandon Roy at the University of Washington.

The Blazers would also receive a high-quality backup power forward in David Lee, who would tremendously help anchor the Blazers' already potent second unit.

What about a third string PF? Who could be considered to fill this role? One possibility is University of Washington PF John Brockman. Brockman is a powerful, physical player who would bring an added kick to the Blazer's bench.

Another possibilty could be to deal Ike Diogu, Shavlik Randolph, and the Blazers' first round draft pick to whoever receives the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and select Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma. While this scenario is very unlikely, one thing would be certain: There would be a very competitive battle for the backup power forward spot between David Lee and Griffin.

The Portland Trail Blazers are well on their way to making the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Blazers could decide not to make any moves, and stick with what is working. One thing is certain. If the Blazers strike a deal with the Knicks for Nate Robinson and David Lee, they would be greatly improving their stature in the Western Conference.

Nothing in set in stone yet. I am very excited for this Blazers team, but only time will tell what the future has in store for the Portland Trail Blazers.