Will Portland Make The Playoffs This Year?

It was a well heralded fact that Portland's future was bright. It still is, but this season is set to become another setback in their search for their 2nd NBA Championship. They're chances of advancing very far in the playoffs seem little, but can they even get they're? They're starting to fall apart through injuries and those players who've been spared from injury are confused of they're role in the team. It has just been announced that Rudy Fernandez will miss 4-6 weeks after being treated for his back injury, which was first hurt against the Lakers late last season when Trevor Ariza fouled Rudy hard from behind. This led to Rudy being taken off in a stretcher. Injuries have become such a problem that a trade may become necessary, the problem with this is that all our trade bait is injured, leaving the only position were we have reasonable depth, point guard, the only realistic option to trade away one off. If this trade occurs who will it be for and who will it involve? Here are the people who can not be available to trade and/or play:

Andre Miller (Can't be traded until Dec. 15 but still available to play)

Rudy Fernandez (Injured 4-6 weeks)

Jeff Pendegraph (Injured, expected to return in December)

Patrick Mills (Injured, return date unknown)

Greg Oden (Injured, out for the rest of the season)

Travis Outlaw (Injured, expected to return March)

Nicholas Batum (Injured, expected to return February)

The roster change must be made at Portland which is quite obvious after quickly looking at the depth chart:

PG: Miller/Blake/Bayless (Mills could also be dropped to make a spot for a FA)

SG: Roy

SF: Webster

PF: Aldridge/Cunningham

C: Przybilla/Howard

This means that until Jeff Pendegraph returns Bayless will likely move to back up SG and Cunningham (although its his natural position) and Roy will also have to share some SF roles. There has been talks that Bayless has asked for a trade, which could happen. Portland may also wait to Dec. 15 and then choose to trade Miller. Either one of these two options could occur, with or without the dropping of Patrick Mills for a player like Ime Udoka. 

To make the Playoffs Brandon and LaMarcus must at times carry the team and play a great amount of minutes. It seems likely though that the best we will do is a lower playoff seed unless a great trade is made. If we do happen to make the playoffs though our team should be nearly back to full strength in time with the exceptions of Oden and possibly and Mills, assuming there is not anymore injuries sustained.

With or without making moves I expect Portland to make the Playoffs and make some noise as their depth chart, if no moves are made, will look like this:

PG: Miller/Blake/Bayless

SG: Roy/Fernandez

SF: Batum/Webster/Cunningham

PF: Aldridge/Outlaw/Pendegraph

C: Przybilla/Howard