Roster Report

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
F LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge finished eighth in the league in scoring with a 21.7-point average and was 25th in rebounding with 8.0 per game. With the retirement of G Brandon Roy prior to the season, Aldridge was clearly the team's best player and emotional leader.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
G Raymond Felton. Felton came to Portland before the season in a three-way trade that sent G Andre Miller to Denver. Miller was missed as Felton -- overweight and out of shape through the early part of the season -- played poorly until after McMillan was let go as coach.

BIGGEST NEEDS
Center and point guard. The Blazers waived oft-injured Greg Oden during the season, and veteran Joel Przybilla, added at the midway point, never found his form. The Blazers may use the biggest portion of their salary-cap room to try to land a big-name point guard such as Deron Williams, Steve Nash or Goran Dragic. It's possible, too, that they'll seek a starting shooting guard to allow Matthews to serve as a presence off the bench.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
The Blazers will explore using their salary cap room -- somewhere between $14 million and $24 million -- to add two unrestricted free agents, though a sign-and-trade is another possibility. Then there is the matter of restricted free agents Nicolas Batum and J.J. Hickson. Portland will likely tender qualifying offers to the pair and seems destined to match any offer from another team. The Blazers would like to keep Hickson, too, though at the right price.

PLAYER NOTES

--F LaMarcus Aldridge is recovering from two health issues -- hip surgery in early May and a mysterious "blood virus" that sent him to the hospital emergency room two weeks ago. "He looks great," GM Neil Olshey said. "He clearly he had a major scare and was shaken up by the blood virus, but as far as the physical rehab goes, he has done well. He was in (the training facility) shooting a little bit. Clearly, he'll be ready by (the start of training) camp."

--G Eliot Williams, who underwent right shoulder surgery in late April, has been in the training facility along with G Nolan Smith. F Luke Babbitt, GM Neil Olshey said, "will be back soon."

--G Jamal Crawford's opt-in date on the final year of contract (worth $5.225 million) was moved back from June 13 to June 29 through an agreement by GM Neil Olshey and Crawford's agent, Andy Miller, but Crawford told a Seattle television station that he plans to opt out.

MEDICAL WATCH

--F LaMarcus Aldridge underwent right hip surgery ini eary May and then was afflicted with a "blood virus" two weeks later. But he should be ready for training camp.

--G Elliot Williams underwent right shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready for training camp.

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