24-year old J.J. Hickson was re-signed over the summer and he will likely open the 2012-13 season as the starting center on the Blazers. Hickson played in 54 games (19 starts) for the Kings and Blazers last year and he averaged 23.0 minutes, 8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He has now played in 277 games (158 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 21.3 minutes, 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Hickson played pretty well for the Blazers last season, so they have high hopes for him. 20-year old Meyers Leonard came to the Trailblazers in the first round of last June’s NBA Draft. Leonard played in 65 games in his two years at Illinois and he averaged 19.8 minutes, 7.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2012-13: C

27-year old LaMarcus Aldridge is likely going to have another big year in 2012-13 for the Blazers. He played in 55 games (all starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 36.3 minutes, 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Aldridge has now played in 434 games (393 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 35.0 minutes, 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. 30-year old Jared Jeffries will likely start the 2012-13 season as the Blazers’ #2 power forward. Jeffries played in 39 games (4 starts) for the Knicks last year and he averaged 18.7 minutes, 4.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Jeffries has now played in 591 games (335 starts) in his first 10 years in the NBA and he is averaging 22.4 minutes, 5.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The #3 guy in line at power forward for the Blazers will be 25-year old Joel Freeland. He was a first round pick of the Blazers way back in 2006 and he has been playing overseas. Freeland played in 45 games combined in Euroleague and Spain in which he averaged 27.4 minutes, 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2012-13: A

The Trailblazers are expecting big things out of 23-year old small forward Nicolas Batum, after they re-signed him to a huge contract. Batum played in 59 games (34 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 30.4 minutes, 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 255 games (202 starts) in his first four years with the Blazers and he is averaging 26.2 minutes, 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. 23-year old Luke Babbitt will likely enter the 2012-13 season as Batum’s caddy. Babbitt played in 40 games (4 starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 5.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game as he shot a very impressive 43% from three point range. Babbitt has now played in 64 games (4 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 10.5 minutes, 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. 24-year old Victor Claver has signed on to play for the Blazers this year. He was the Blazers’ first round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft (#22 overall). He played in 44 games combined in Spain and Eurocup ball last year and he averaged 25.6 minutes, 8.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Blazers have recently signed 28-year old Adam Morrison and he will compete in training camp for a roster spot. Morrison has played in 161 games (28 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 20.4 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2012-13: B

The Trailblazers are hoping for more offensively from the shooting guards this year. 25-year old Wesley Matthews is back as the starter and the Blazers will likely let him shoot more in 2012-13. Matthews played in 66 games (53 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 33.8 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has now played in 230 games (170 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 30.5 minutes, 12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. 21-year old rookie Will Barton came to the Blazers in the second round of last June’s NBA Draft. Barton played in 70 games in his two years with Memphis and he averaged 32.9 minutes, 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Barton will likely be the #2 shooting guard for the Blazers in 2012-13, if he can beat out 28-year old Sasha Pavlovic and 23-year old Elliot Williams for the job. Pavlovic played in 45 games (7 starts) for the Celtics last year and he averaged 11.7 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He has now played in 528 games (141 starts) in his first seven years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.8 minutes, 5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Williams played in 24 games (0 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 6.2 minutes, 3.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2012-13: C+

The Trailblazers are going really young at the point in 2012-13. The Blazers are going to stick 22-year old rookie first round pick Damian Lillard right into the fire in 2012-13, as he will be the starting point guard. Lillard played in 104 games in his four years at Weber State and he averaged 32.3 minutes, 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. 24-year old Nolan Smith will likely be the #2 point guard for the Blazers in 2012-13. Smith played in 44 games (4 starts) as a rookie for the Blazers last year and he averaged 12.3 minutes, 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He didn’t shoot well last year hitting only 37.2% from the floor, 28.9% from three point range and 71.4% from the free throw line. Smith will need to play better in 2012-13 to get consistent P.T. That is because 29-year old Ronnie Price will also be on hand to compete for backup minutes at the point. Price played in 36 games (8 starts) for the Suns last year and he averaged 14.4 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has now played in 355 games (33 starts) in his first seven years in the NBA and he is averaging 11.5 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Price has only shot 38.9% from the floor and 30.4% from the three point line so far in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POINT GUARDS IN 2012-13: C

The Blazers have a lot of quantity at center for 2011-12, but 37-year old Marcus Camby is the only really good one. Camby goes into this season as the Blazers’ starting center. Camby played in 59 games (51 starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 26.1 minutes, 4.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 890 games (729 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 10.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.5 blocked shots per game. He is pretty injury prone, so the Blazers are going to need someone to step up behind him. 34-year old Jarron Collins doesn’t have much left in the gas tank. He played in 28 games (0 starts) for the Clippers & Trailblazers last year and he averaged 6.5 minutes, 0.7 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Collins has now played in 542 games (216 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 15.8 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. 30-year old Earl Barron has shown flashes in his career of being a solid NBA center. Barron played in 21 games (7 starts) for the Suns & Blazers last year and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He has now played in 110 games (28 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 15.2 minutes, 5.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. 26-year old Chris Johnson didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself as a rookie. Johnson played in 14 games (1 start) for the Celtics & Blazers last year and he averaged 9.9 minutes, 2.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

26-year old LaMarcus Aldridge is going to be the starting power forward for the Trailblazers once again in 2011-12. He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 39.6 minutes, 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 379 games (338 starts) in his career with the Blazers and he is averaging 34.8 minutes, 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Aldridge just keeps getting better for the Trailblazers, so look for him to have a big year for them in 2011-12.

29-year old Gerald Wallace is an outstanding all-around player as he goes all out, all of the time on both ends of the court. Wallace played in 71 games (63 starts) for the Bobcats & Blazers last year and he averaged 37.9 minutes, 15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has now played in 615 games (469 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 30.7 minutes, 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. 22-year old Nicolas Batum will have a good shot of winning the 6th Man of the Year in the NBA in 2011-12. Batum played in 80 games (67 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 31.5 minutes, 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 196 games (168 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 25.0 minutes, 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. 22-year old Luke Babbitt struggled big time in his rookie season for the Trailblazers. He played in 24 games (0 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 5.7 minutes, 1.5 points, 1.3 rebounds an 0.3 assists per game. Babbitt just couldn’t shoot last year as he shot only 27.3% from the floor, 18.8% from three point range and 33.3% from the free throw line.

The Portland Trailblazers expect a lot of offense out of the shooting guards this year. It all starts with 25-year old Wesley Matthews. He played in 82 games (69 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 33.6 minutes, 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Matthews has now played in 164 games (117 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 29.2 minutes, 12.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He will be the starter once again this year. 27-year old Brandon Roy has bum knees that limit the minutes he can play. He played in 47 games (23 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Roy has now played in 321 games (295 starts) in his first five years with the Trailblazers and he is averaging 35.6 minutes, 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Blazers likely are hoping for 15-20 solid minutes out of Roy in 2011-12. 22-year old Elliot Williams missed his rookie season due to injury. He isn’t likely going to get much P.T. in 2011-12. 23-year old rookie Nolan Smith was taken in the 1st round of the NBA Draft last June and he’s likely going to split time between point guard and shooting guard in 2011-12. 23-year old Jon Diebler was taken in the second round out of Ohio State last June. His best skill is his long range shooting.

The Trailblazers are going to run the ball a lot more than they did last year with Andre Miller in charge. 27-year old Raymond Felton is the new starting point guard for the Trailblazers. He played in 75 games (54 starts) for the Knicks & Nuggets last year and he averaged 36.5 minutes, 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Felton has now played in 474 games (423 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 35.2 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. 23-year old rookie Nolan Smith will probably be Felton’s caddy in 2011-12. He can handle both guard spots. 22-year old Armon Johnson played in 38 games (0 starts) as a rookie last year for the Blazers and he averaged 7.3 minutes, 2.9 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.