Portland Trail Blazers: Who Should They Target for Additional Frontcourt Depth?

A recent article written on b/r detailed the roster issues that the Trail Blazers have as the team is presently constructed.  I believe this argument is very well founded, and it is one thing that management and the coaching staff need to fix if the Blazers are ever going to evolve into anything more than a tough first-round playoff matchup.

It's hard for an athlete in any team sport to be consistent in his or her performance when he or she doesn't have a definite role from game to game.  Most players on the Blazers roster are somewhat guilty of under-performing last season, but I believe that stems, in large part, from the apparent confusion about what is expected of them. 

Some of that confusion is due to the way the roster has been constructed, while some is attributable to the coaching staff, but I think a large part of it is simply a result of injuries.  With so many of them to so many key players, the Blazers roster has developed more in response to those injuries rather than in a planned, methodical way.

Basically, the team has too many guards and not enough depth up front.  Granted, between LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, Greg Oden and Gerald Wallace, the Blazers do have a lot of talent, but Wallace is really a small forward in most situations.  Also, Oden may or may not ever be fully healthy, and Camby will be turning 38 next year. 

Someone new is needed to balance out the roster and allow Aldridge to average fewer minutes during the regular season, although, unless the right superstar becomes available (Dwight Howard, anyone?), they shouldn't break the bank and overpay for anyone, especially with a probable hard salary cap looming in the near future.

So, who can the Blazers target as a solid backup who could also start and play well if Greg Oden or Marcus Camby aren't able to play consistently next season?

• Samuel Dalembert: he's getting older but can definitely still play.  He averaged 8.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season, all at or near his career averages.  He could sign a one or two-year deal with the Blazers and either start or come off the bench, and he wouldn't cost as much as some of the bigger names.
• Joel Przybilla: at least with him, we would know what we're getting.  Last season, he struggled mightily due to injuries and the mid-season trade, but may be closer to form whenever games start up again.  Przybilla isn't going to wow anyone, but he is a solid player and can either start or come off the bench without much complaining either way.
• Kris Humphries: granted, he is more of a power forward than a center, but he could thrive in a backup role with the Blazers.  LaMarcus Aldridge has also shown himself to be more than capable of playing well against most other NBA centers, meaning that if either Oden or Camby is unavailable, Aldridge could be moved to center to make room for either Wallace or Humphries to start at power forward.  The Blazers would probably become the league's most versatile team if they were able to sign Humphries.
• Aaron Gray: he's definitely a backup center at heart, but Gray played solid defensively and on the boards in limited minutes against the Lakers during last season's playoffs.  I'm not super excited about this one, but he would be a good backup and good insurance against the seemingly never-ending injury problems with Blazers big men.
• Glen Davis: he's not my favorite player by any means, but Big Baby has shown that he can be a perfect role player on a championship team.  The only worry I have here is that whatever team he ends up on will probably end up overpaying for him, since he's probably not starter material.  But, Davis is a smart, talented player, and if the Blazers could get him without paying too much, I would hope they would jump at the chance to do so.

The Blazers will eventually need two stars if they are going to compete for a conference title and NBA championship.  Aldridge is one; Roy or Oden could be the second, if healthy.  So could Nicolas Batum, but not as long as he is the third or fourth option on offense at any given time. 

Depending on how things turn out this next season, assuming there is a season, the team may need to look at trading away depth and pieces for another star, possibly Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. 

For example, the Blazers could send Wallace, Batum, and Greg Oden to Orlando for Howard, giving Orlando some nice pieces to move forward with.  The Blazers would still have a nucleus of Howard, Aldridge, possibly Roy, Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton, with some promising younger players coming off the bench.

Whatever happens, with either a couple small trades or the blockbuster of the year, the Blazers are poised to make some noise going forward.