TUALATIN, Ore. — Monday marked the official start of a new beginning for three NBA players coming to the Pacific Northwest.
A new beginning for the Portland Trail Blazers is still taking shape.
Noah Vonleh, Mason Plumlee and Gerald Henderson were all introduced as Blazers on Monday at the team’s practice facility flanked by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey and head coach Terry Stotts.
There were moments that made the press conference slightly awkward, such as the failure of Plumlee’s microphone. Or that not even one question regarding free-agent LaMarcus Aldridge would be allowed.
But the attitude at Monday’s press conference in Tualatin was a positive one as they welcomed their newest players.
When they were asked about their impressions of the city having arrived late last night, Portland’s decision makers were keeping it light.
Terry Stotts joked: “Did you tell them it’s always this sunny?”
To which Olshey added: “And there’s a naked bike race everyday?”
This piqued Henderson’s interest, the only veteran of the group having spent all six years of his career in Charlotte.
“What time is that?”
Jokes aside, the Blazers were focused on what they brought in rather than what they gave up.
“You look at it when we introduce these three guys together, you look at it as a collective,” Olshey said. “It’s not about the pieces you put in play to get them, but what the net result was.”
And the net result were four players, including second-round pick Pat Connaughton out of Notre Dame, who will be introduced when the team starts their summer league training camp.
While the focus will soon shift toward free agency, Plumlee was saying all the right things about the one star who will certainly be in uniform alongside him.
“As a big it’s very exciting to play with a guard like Damian Lillard,” Plumlee said. “He’s one of the most exciting players in the league, to me. I’m excited about a new beginning.”
All of the additions seem to have one thing in common: athleticism.
“I think when you look at players, you’re looking at guys that bring something elite to the table,” Olshey said. “Then you’re looking to develop the other areas of their game. It’s easier to turn an athlete into a shooter than it is to turn a shooter into an athlete.”
Olshey would later say the boost in athleticism was “happenstance.”
Vonleh didn’t play much in Charlotte, appearing in only 25 games and is already doing his best to lobby that he deserves time to develop.
“Towards the end of the season when I got minutes I was able to produce,” Vonleh said. “Then when I got here, if I get some minutes I will definitely be able to produce also.”
While that decision will depend on how their free agency goes and how much head coach Terry Stotts will trust him to play through mistakes of a young player, Portland loves his potential.
“And Noah, who is one of the most undervalued guys in last year’s draft,” Olshey said. “He’s still younger than half the guys in the lottery this year.”
Vonleh’s upside is attractive and Plumlee feels as though he can still improve.
Portland also strongly believes in their coaching staff, which have done an admirable job in player development.
“I think Terry will agree, Nate (Tibbetts), David (Vanterpool), Kim (Hughes), Dale (Osbourne), Jay (Triano), have done a phenomenal job as coaches developing our young players,” Olshey said.
While Vonleh lobbies for playing time and Plumlee and Henderson prepare for new beginnings, their roles are still — like their roster — to be determined.
“Really it’s too early to figure out,” Stotts said. “We’ve got a few other things to do before that.”
