Damian Lillard could lead the league in scoring next season

Perhaps no team went through a bigger off-season makeover than the Portland Trail Blazers, as the team will look completely different next season. The makeover wasn't necessarily an attractive one however.

The Blazers, who were bounced in the first round of the Playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies, lost four out of their five starters (!) from last season. Nic Batum is now a Charlotte Hornet. Wesley Matthews kept it in the Conference and will now serve as Dirk Nowitzki's newest sidekick in Dallas. Robin Lopez signed on to help Phil Jackson resurrect the Knicks, and of course, former-franchise centerpiece LaMarcus Aldridge is now a San Antonio Spur. The lone remaining starter is 2x All-Star Damian Lillard, who is fresh off of inking a new max deal with Portland.


Overcoming the loss of four quality starters is a tall task for any team, and the Blazers were unable to replace their departed with much established talent.  Their projected starting lineup includes Ed Davis, Gerald Henderson, Mason Plumlee, and Al-Farouq Aminu; quality contributors, but not necessarily top-tier talent.

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The Blazers lost nearly 58 points of production per game between the four lost starters, and without much help, much of the task of replacing their offensive output will fall to Damian Lillard.

Lillard put up 21 points per game last season while taking 16.6 shots per game. His usage rate was 26.9% and with all of the team's other top offensive options now gone, those numbers are sure to balloon.

With Aldridge gone, Lillard is now the unquestioned face of the franchise, and will be the team's lone top dog for the first time in his young career. His increased offensive opportunity should put him in position to compete for the league's scoring title. He will have his fair share of competition for the scoring title; Curry, Harden, James, Durant, and Westbrook to name a few, but with vastly increased opportunity on the offensive end to simply put up points, it is feasible.

He was 13th overall in the league in scoring last season, so he will need to make quite a jump in order to take home the title of the league's most proficient scorer. But in order to even consider contending for a playoff spot in the ever-difficult Western Conference, Portland will need Lillard to ball out, so he will certainly have an enhanced opportunity to compete for the scoring title.