Next up in our Moments In Time – Northwest sports series is a fun flashback of Rip City NBA draft picks.

If Portland Trail Blazers fans have learned anything throughout the years, it’s that things don’t always go as planned when it comes to the NBA draft.

Portland has been hit hard in the past when it comes to draft day. Sometimes it’s bad luck. Sometimes it’s bad decision making.

Either way, there are plenty of cases to choose from when it comes to busts in Trail Blazers history.

Martell Webster, No. 6 Overall (2005)

Martell Webster was drafted by the Blazers in 2005. (Photo: Kathy Willens/AP)

Martell Webster was an on-again, off-again role player with the Trail Blazers. He went through hot streaks and shooting slumps during his five years with the team, but the latter was far more popular, as he averaged just 8.5 points.

Webster was a decent role player during his time in Portland, but unfortunately, fans don’t want role players with the sixth-overall pick. The Seattle native was supposed to be a deadly shooter from day one, and while that proved to be true when he caught fire, he never fully developed into a consistent threat.

The biggest issue with the selection of Webster is that Portland management missed a golden opportunity to draft true superstars. Before dealing the No. 3 pick to the Utah Jazz, the team had the chance to select Deron Williams or Chris Paul. Even after trading the pick, the Blazers could have taken Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger or David Lee.

Webster has gone on to find a role with his third NBA team—the Washington Wizards—but he’s yet to truly justify the sixth-overall selection from 2005.

Sebastian Telfair, No. 13 Overall (2004)

There was a long stretch of time when the Trail Blazers were looking for their next point guard of the future. Some argue that the search began when Terry Porter left and didn’t end until Damian Lillard was drafted in 2012. However, the more reasonable time frame begins when Damon Stoudamire left in 2005.

Regardless of when it began, the truth is that the team tried a number of different options. One of them was Sebastian Telfair, and in hindsight, we can say that the Telfair experiment was a complete failure.

Telfair was drafted straight out of high school with the 13th-overall pick. He was an absolute superstar in the making, as he averaged 33.2 points per game, and Slam Magazine even went as far as to say that he and LeBron James were going to “rule the world.”

Still waiting for Sebastian Telfair to rule the world… twitter.com/BleacherReport…

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 21, 2013

It’s safe to say that one of those players is currently ruling the basketball world, and one of them is not.

LaRue Martin, No. 1 Overall (1972)

If LaRue Martin is known for anything in Rip City, it’s beginning a startling trend of highly touted big men simply not working out as planned.

Martin, a 6’11” center, was taken with the first pick in the 1972 draft. He was chosen over both Bob McAdoo (who couldn’t come to contract terms with Portland) and Julius Erving largely because he outplayed Bill Walton in the 1971-72 NCAA season.

After four disappointing years (5.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG), Martin retired in 1976—one season before the Blazers won their only NBA championship.

Sam Bowie, No. 2 Overall (1984)

Sam Bowie is known in NBA circles for one thing—being drafted second overall in 1984; one spot ahead of the legendary Michael Jordan.

This is the legacy Greg Oden left behind in PDX.

Bowie’s career lasted 10 seasons, but he was never able to meet the lofty expectations that were tossed his way. He did manage to play in 70-plus games three different times, but only one of those times came in Portland.

The center was traded to the New Jersey nets after four years, having played in just 63 games during his final three seasons with the team.

Greg Oden, No. 1 Overall (2007)

Many people consider Sam Bowie to be the biggest bust in Trail Blazers history because the team missed out on Michael Jordan. However, the big man played 76 games in his rookie season, almost totaling the number of games Greg Oden has seen in six years.

The big story with Oden is injuries. Had he have been able to stay on the court, we could have been looking at the game’s next great center.

Unfortunately for the organization that drafted him, that wasn’t the case, as he never had time to develop and learn how to play at the NBA level.

The other story, as it is with every bust in NBA history, is who else was left on the board. Portland infamously took Bowie over Jordan in 1984, and it made the same mistake in 2007 choosing Oden over Kevin Durant.

The world will never know what would have happened if the Blazers had made different decisions, but then again, every move helps mold the future—a future that looks bright with Damian Lillard aiming for stardom.

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The Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Supersonics may have had the friendliest, non-heated rivalry in NBA history. That says something about the two organizations, but it also says a lot about the quality of people grown in the Great Northwest.

The last time the Blazers and Sonics faced off was March 24, 2008. Seattle took care of business at home, taking down Portland 94-87.

But score aside, what was most memorable about that battle was the nervous energy in the arena. No, not for the final result of the game, but for the long-term security of a city’s beloved team.

Any chance fans got, they began chanting and cheering, making sure their voices were heard. “Save our Sonics” resonated through the halls of KeyArena, and the enthusiasm of the crowd helped the Sonics end an ugly 11-game losing streak.

Kevin Durant and Greg Oden were supposed to renew the I-5 Rivalry.

During the 2007-08 final season, the I-5 rivalry was ready to be renewed. The Blazers and the Sonics were both rebuilding organizations, but before the year began, the two teams had been fortunate enough to land the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft.

Although Kevin Durant and Greg Oden played different positions, the competition between the two of them was supposed to be enough to spark interest league-wide. Oden was going to bring excitement back to the center position, while Durant was going to put his unreal scoring ability on full display.

The NBA even scheduled the Blazers and the Sonics to play on Christmas Day—an honor that is typically reserved for the league’s most passionate rivalries.

Needless to say, the injury-plagued career of Oden put the rebuild in Portland on hold, while the major storyline in Seattle was more about the relocation of the team, and less about the success of the Rookie of the Year.

In four matchups during 2007-08, the Blazers and Sonics split the series two games apiece. Durant averaged 20.8 points per contest for Seattle, while the Blazers had sporadic production from both Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Christmas Day game received the most attention, and the final matchup between the two of them is memorable; but the most exciting game came in a four-point win by Portland in February.

Aside being in the Northwest region of the country, the two organizations have a number of connections. Looking into the history books, you’ll find that Portland was able to snag former Sonics such as Shawn Kemp, Lenny Wilkens and Detlef Schrempf at different points in their careers. Even in 2008, Seattle natives Brandon Roy and Martell Webster donned the Blazers’ black and red, while Nate McMillan roamed the sidelines as the head coach.

Thinking back on the final matchups between these two organizations, the tendency from fans on both sides is to ask the question: what if? But with good things ahead for both parties, it’s time to look forward.

These two teams will play again, and when they do, it’s going to be a great day for the NBA.

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Is it college football season yet?

Unfortunately for fans, the answer is no. But it’s never too early to take a look at which players from the Great Northwest will have monster impacts once the year final kicks off.

Keith Price, UW

Call me crazy, but I think this is the year we see the Keith Price that has been advertised all along.

Keith Price is ready to hit the scene in 2013.

The 2012 season saw another disappointing year for Price and the Washington Huskies. Despite throwing 70 more passes than he did in 2011, he completed 14 fewer touchdowns for a total of 19 scores through the air. He also threw two more interceptions than the year before, for a total of 11 giveaways.

So why would a player trending downward be a candidate for a breakout year? Two reasons.

First, the kid has too much talent to not improve. His QB Rating in 2011 was 161.9, and while that number dropped to 122.4 last year, he has a chance to go out strong in his senior season.

The other, more substantial reason, is that his offensive line now has more experience. Bringing back the same crew that caused him so much trouble in 2012 could be a recipe for disaster, but with more familiarity and more practice under their belts, they’ll help propel Price to success if they can give him just a little more time in the pocket than they did a year ago.

Marcus Mariota, UO

Sticking with the quarterback theme, the University of Oregon’s Marcus Mariota should be a Heisman candidate when the year comes to a close.

After an incredible season as a redshirt freshman, Mariota is primed to come back and expand upon his already impressive resume. The youngster finished 2012 with the sixth-highest QB rating in the country, and that was in a run-heavy offense orchestrated by former head coach Chip Kelly.

Now, with Mark Helfrich running the show, the second-year starter should earn more opportunities to show what he can do. The offense will in all likelihood still be a fast-paced, spread attack, but with Mariota’s high IQ and ability to escape bad situations, he’ll have a chance to show that he’s one of the top QB’s in the nation.

Brett Bartolone, WSU

The Washington State Cougars led the Pac-12 last season in passing yards per game, and while that didn’t translate into wins very often, it created opportunities for players to rack up numbers on a game-to-game basis.

This year, assuming Mike Leach doesn’t change things too drastically—although he probably should—look for depth to shine at the wide receiver position.

Players such as Gabe Marks, Dominique Williams and Isiah Myers all have the potential to separate themselves from the pack, but don’t be surprised if Brett Bartolone is the one who makes the biggest strides. He led the team in receptions in 2012 (53), and he tied with the second-most receiving touchdowns behind Marquess Wilson.

Scott Crichton, OSU

The Oregon State Beavers’ secondary is taking a big hit in 2013 with the loss of Jordan Poyer to the NFL—he was a seventh-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles. Hopefully with the play of Scott Crichton up front, life will be easier for those transitioning deep.

In 2012, Crichton had 17.5 tackles for loss. He’s a persistent presence as a Defensive End, and he has 15 sacks and seven forced fumbles in the previous two years.

De’Anthony Thomas is finally set to be a No. 1 option for the Oregon Ducks.

At 6’3”, 263 pounds, the junior has a chance to boost his draft stock this season. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him listed as one of his top 50 players to compete for first-round status, and at No. 31 on that list, a solid year should help cement that notion.

De’Anthony Thomas, UO

You knew we couldn’t leave The Black Mamba off this list, didn’t you?

Up to this point, De’Anthony Thomas has been beyond entertaining to watch. He’s a big-play threat every time he touches the ball, and he knows how to confuse a defense with his speed and ability to change direction.

What we haven’t seen is him take over the offense in true go-to fashion, but that might change in 2013.

With Kenjon Barner gone to the NFL, expect to see Thomas play an even more prominent role than he has in the past. He likely won’t be a No. 1 option every play out of the backfield—his size and durability simply won’t let him—but he’s going to be the most dynamic player on the field whether he’s masquerading as a tailback, receiver or special teams returner.

Every year we see Thomas get off to a hot start, followed by a steady finish. This should be the year where he keeps up the pace, and officially becomes known as one of the best football players in the entire country.

The 2013 NBA offseason is going to be a big one for the Portland Trail Blazers. With money to spend, free agency will be a hot topic around PDX, but with the draft lottery up first, the focus is on rookie prospects and which player will best fit come June.

In today’s day and age of social media and the ever-expanding blogosphere, everybody and their mother has a mock draft. It’s tough to keep track of who is projecting what, which is why we’ve got you covered.

*Mock Drafts are accurate as of May 17, 2013.

Alex Len, C

Alex Len will go to Portland, according to SI.com (Photo: US Presswire)

• SI.Com: Chris Mannix
• NBA Draft Guru
• Hoopsworld
• NBA Prospects

It’s no secret that the Blazers need a center, and the national media has jumped on that fact when it comes to mock drafts.

Len is a 7’1” big man out of Mayrland. Truthfully, he’s going to be a tough player for the Blazers to land, as he’s projected by many outlets to be drafted somewhere between the top 5 and the top 10—a place Portland would have to trade up to using its current No. 10 pick (pre-lottery).

The center should remind fans of Meyers Leonard at this point, as he has the skills to pass out of the high post and score in the mid-range.

Kelly Olynyk, C

• Hoopstuff: Mike
• The Hoops Report
• Hoopshype

Sticking with the center theme, Gonzaga big man Kelly Olynyk makes his way back to the Great Northwest in a few national mock drafts. As a true seven-footer, Okynyk would provide the Blazers with a ton of energy on both sides of the floor. He definitely needs to work on his strength and technique to excel in the NBA, but you can teach those things—you can’t teach height.

Olynyk is another player who can help spread the floor with his perimeter game. I’m not sure that’s the kind of big man that LaMarcus Aldridge is hoping to play alongside, but if the Blazers deem him worthy of a lottery pick, the power forward will have to continue mimicking the center position while Olynyk develops.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG

• ESPN: Chad Ford 2.0
• MY NBA Draft

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has seen his draft stock rise the closer we get to the draft itself.

That’s good news for the 2-guard, but it makes him a risk for teams in the top 10 willing to take a chance.

As a deadly shooter, Caldwell-Pope would give the Blazers depth at the 2-guard position—something it desperately needs—and another threat on the perimeter. His draft placement ranges from late top 10 to a later lottery selection, meaning he should be on the table if Portland falls in love.

Cody Zeller, C

• NBA-Draft.com
• Hoopstuff: Brandon
• NBA Draft Room

Another center? You bet.

Cody Zeller has watched himself fall in mock drafts over the last year. He went from a top-5 hopeful in 2012 to a mid-to-late-lottery prospect in 2013. The Blazers would have looked at him with No. 6 last year, and now they’ll look at him again with No. 10.

Shabazz Muhammad should both scare and excite fans in Portland.

In mock drafts spread across the internet, Zeller’s range is wide. Some believe he has the basketball IQ and a strong enough skill set to make up for his lack of physicality, and at 6’11”, 210 pounds, the national media thinks he’s worthy of the Blazers’ first-round pick.

Shabazz Muhammad, SF

• Draft Express
• CBS: Jeff Goodman
• NBADraft.net
• Crossover
• Sporting News

This is the name that should excite fans in Rip City. However, it’s also the name that should scare the life out of a rebuilding franchise.

Shabazz Muhammad might be the best player in the draft when it comes to talent alone. He’s strong and physical at the small forward position, and scouts recognize that he’s a dangerous scorer, and likely will be at any level.

If he’s available at No. 10, the Blazers would be hard-pressed to not snatch him up. That said, there’s a reason nine teams might pass on him in the NBA draft.

Despite being able to score, he struggles in isolation situations. He’s a bit too dependent on his left hand, and he may be forced to slide down to the 2-guard spot because of his size and athleticism.

There’s also the issue with his birth certificate, which could be an indication of character issues if you look too far in to it.

ESPN has him ranked as the 11th best prospect, but a number of mock drafts have him going before Portland selects at 10th overall.

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In case you’ve been under a rock, in a cave or otherwise absent of news this week, you’ve probably heard that the city of Seattle will not be getting an NBA team in 2014. This is awful news for the people of Seattle, but as members of the Great Northwest, Portlanders can commiserate.

If you’re a Portlander, you’ve been stuck in the middle—geographically speaking—of this ongoing saga. Sacramento and Seattle have been duking it out, and while you may not have a dog in the fight, you have to put yourself in each city’s shoes.

Sympathy for Seattle

When the Seattle Supersonics were ripped away from their original town, it was easy for fans in Portland to watch with sadness. Obviously, the sorrow never turned to anger as it did in the state of Washington, but nobody wants to lose a team that has meant so much to a city and its people.

Watching a player like Kevin Durant slip away is always hard—then again, Portland’s actually experienced that as well.

Portlanders feel for Seattleites. (Photo: Bruce Ely/The Oregonian)

So while the people of Portlandia may have never watched an owner take their team and move away, it’s easy to put our feet in your shoes. Portland is a one-sport town—for the most part—and if the Trail Blazers ever leave, it’s going to be a ruthless fight to gain the return of what’s rightfully ours.

Empathy for Sacramento

As much as Portlanders feel for their neighbors to the north, watching Sacramento fight for its team is beyond noble. Seattleites can relate to that, and you have to feel for the people in the city that want nothing more than to preserve their franchise.

The truth is that Portland has been in similar situations before, but to less extremes. No, the team has never been sold to an owner who wants to move the organization, but every time owner Paul Allen gets antsy with the direction of the team, fans begin to worry.

Would he sell? Would he move the squadto Seattle, where he does business and owns the Seahawks?

Nobody wants to lose their team, and on that front, Portland feels for Sacramento.

What a team in Seattle would mean for PDX

If the NBA were to return to Seattle, the city of Portland would rejoice. Yes, the celebration would be far more noteworthy in Seattle itself, but fans of the Trail Blazers would be ready to embrace a new team in a familiar location.

The Blazers have lacked a rival for quite some time. A team in Seattle could give them just that.

They also have to travel more than any team in the NBA because of the geographical makeup of the league. A team in Seattle would cut down on time spent jetlagged, and possibly even spark a movement to get the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder out of their division.

So by all means, David Stern; bring a team back to Seattle. If you won’t, the great Northwest will wait for Adam Silver to take over, and then the city of Portland can help Seattle celebrate its new team.

So long as it’s not the Trail Blazers. Don’t get any ideas, Paul Allen.

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Damian Lillard is the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year. He’s a dynamic scorer, a solid floor general and a player who can impact the box score in a number of different categories.

The one area where Damian Lillard has yet to establish himself for the Portland Trail Blazers is defense, and that’s where Gary Payton enters the picture.   

According to The Oregonian’s Jason Quick, Lillard plans on working with the Sonics‘ Payton on his defensive game over the summer. The rookie point guard has heard the murmurs about his productivity on that side of the floor, and he’s ready to add a whole new dynamic to his already-impressive skill set.

Gary Payton is arguably the best defensive point guard of all time. (Photo: Getty Images)

Why Payton?

It’s become a trend for NBA players to use their offseasons to train with former superstars. Most popularly, Hakeem Olajuwon has taken players such as LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Amar’e Stoudemire under his wing, and we’ve seen noticeable improvements in a number of cases.

In the circumstance of Lillard, Payton should be the perfect mentor. The Blazers’ point guard needs a defensive-minded player to help mold his game, and who better to take charge than the player known as “The Glove” throughout his illustrious career?

Aside from the on-the-court benefits, Payton has the potential to become something of a life coach for the youngster in Portland. The former point guard, who shares the same agents as Lillard, hails from the same city as Portland’s franchise player. As two East Oakland natives, they can relate to one another in ways that other coaches simply wouldn’t be able to at this stage in the game.

Payton even spent the majority of his basketball career in the great Northwest, which is a place Lillard hopes to remain for years to come.

What Can He Improve?

For as good as Lillard’s vision is on offense, he often times found himself out of position when it came to defense. Payton needs to pick the point guard’s brain and teach him not only how to improve his defensive position, but how to get to the right spot on the floor in half-court sets.

Lillard is someone who can play quickly with the ball in his hands, but he needs to learn to do the same on defense.

The NBA has become a strict league when it comes to hand checking on the perimeter, and seeing as holding is no longer an option, he has to improve his lateral quickness.

Damian Lillard use Gary Payton for a defensive tune-up this summer. (Photo: Noah Graham/Getty)

One area where Lillard showed he can make a difference is in transition. The 6’3” guard wasn’t afraid to body up and use his quick hands to strip the ball free, and if there’s any point guard in history who can take those same characteristics and translate them to the half-court game, it’s Payton.

What Can We Expect?

When the Blazers drafted Lillard in 2012, they acquired a player who brought not just production, but swag to a team that desperately needed an edge. That confidence is clear on offense, and now it’s time to see that same kind of intensity on the defensive side of the court.

According to Quick, Payton believes that Lillard can become “the best ever to come out of the California area.” That, of course, is if the youngster can become a better defender throughout his career.

Should we expect Lillard to be a lock-down stopper in Game 1 of the 2013-14 season? Not likely. Defense takes time to learn at the most elite level, and not even Payton can make someone an All-NBA defender right away.

That being said, learning the skills and gaining the mindset to be great can have an immediate impact. If Lillard can learn how to body up a player on the perimeter without using his hands, it will be a big step in the right direction.

The confidence that comes with the new skill set will be a huge factor in his success, and if all goes according to plan, it will be positive sight for fans to see in Rip City.

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The NBA offseason is a time for roster changes, but while most teams aim to bring in new talent, the Portland Trail Blazers might be looking at a familiar face to bring back to the organization.

According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Jermaine O’Neal, a 34-year-old center, would be “very open” to playing for the Blazers next season.

The question, of course, becomes, do the Blazers want to take a chance on an aging veteran in the midst of a youth movement? His production on the floor would be up in the air at this point, but there’s no denying fans would love to see him close out his career in the same place in began.

Could Jermaine O’Neal return home to PDX in 2013? (Photo: Doug Pensinger/NBAE/Getty Images)

Nostalgia

The Blazers drafted O’Neal 17th overall in the 1996 draft. Straight out of high school, the then-power forward was a young, up-and-coming prospect who simply couldn’t find the floor behind Rasheed Wallace and Brian Grant.

After four years with the team, O’Neal was sent to the Indiana Pacers in a trade that would bring Dale Davis to Portland. The Blazers needed a bigger body to stop Shaquille O’Neal, and Davis was supposed to be that body.

Following the trade, the once young prospect became an All-Star with the Pacers. Blazermaniacs have often wondered what this team would have become if O’Neal had been given a chance, and while his 20-point, 10-rebound days are far behind him, seeing him in a Blazers uniform would complete the circle of his NBA career.

According to Haynes, O’Neal has good memories about the city of Portland. He recalls the fans celebrating him despite his difficulties earning minutes, and the city is the place where he met his wife.

Needless to say, thoughts about a potential return bring up good feelings, as it’s never been more apparent that once you’re a Trail Blazer, you’re always a Trail Blazer.

Health (?)

Like many big men toward the end of their careers, O’Neal has seen his health begin to deteriorate. With the Boston Celtics, he played in just 49 games between 2010 and 2012, and even during the mid-to-late 2000s, he was never able to play the amount of games you’d want to see out of a starting center.

Luckily for Portland, he wouldn’t have to be a starting center – he’d just have to be a big body to clog the middle.

The Blazers were dead last in defending the paint in 2012-13. O’Neal has always been a good shot-blocker, as his timing and athleticism have formed a deadly combo throughout this career.

Jermaine O’Neal could be a mentor to Meyers Leonard. (Photo: US Presswire).

This past season, O’Neal saw improvements in both his production and health. According to Haynes, the big man visited a doctor in Germany who helped improve the health of both knees. His numbers boosted to 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in just 18.7 minutes per game, and as long as he can keep that production under the training staff of the Trail Blazers, that’s the kind of showing Portland could use in its second unit.

Mentor

The Blazers have a promising young center in Meyers Leonard, and while he needs to develop a low-post offensive game, defense is what may make or break his career.

Luckily for Portland, if it brings on O’Neal in 2013, it will acquire a veteran who can help hammer defense into the young man’s mind.

O’Neal told Haynes following the season that he likes Meyers Leonard. “He’s an athletic talent that is going to get even better in this league,” O’Neal said. “But I think I can help him become a better defender, rebounder, shot blocker.”

No youth movement was ever successful without a veteran, and the Blazers need to recognize that during an incredibly important summer.

O’Neal recognizes that this team needs help off the bench, and he’s willing to provide that. He knows that the Blazers need help defending the rim, and he wants to help with that, too.

O’Neal is smart player who recognizes the potential of this group, which is why if the team is smart, it’ll welcome him home for the 2013-14 season.

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It’s been said that the point guard position is the most important spot on an NBA court. The floor general is often times the quarterback of his team, and ranking a point guard’s value has to do with more than just stats – it has to do with leadership.

In Portland Trail Blazers‘ history, there have been a handful of players who have run the offense from the 1-spot and have made a name for themselves throughout their careers.

While today’s game is run by point guards, superstar players at that position were tougher to come by when big men ruled the league. It doesn’t take elite production to be recognized as one of the greats, and Portland has a few of those to celebrate as we take a trip down memory lane.

Damian Lillard is already one of the best point guards in Trail Blazers history (Photo: Bleacher Report)

5. Damian Lillard

To some, placing Damian Lillard on this list is disrespectful to the players who came before him. He’s yet to prove he can have more than one good season, and there are a number of players who are well-deserving of the No. 5 spot.

Then again, others might claim that he’s already pushed himself closer to the top, seeing as how he became Portland’s fourth rookie of the year following the 2012-13 campaign.

At this point, we’ll take both sides into account, consider his historic first season a success and place him here with the expectation that he’ll climb the rankings throughout a solid NBA career.

4. Rod Strickland

Rod Strickland played for nine teams during his 17 years as an NBA point guard. Five of those came with Portland, and four of them were beyond memorable for fans in Rip City.

Between 1992 and 1996, Strickland ran the offense for the Blazers, and did an exceptional job at that. He averaged approimately 17.2 points and 8.7 assists.

His final season with the team came in 2000-01; a year in which he played just 21 games and averaged just 4.6 points and 3.4 assists.

Numbers aside, Strickland was the kind of player who could orchestrate an offense. His lightening-quick speed allowed him to get into the paint, and while he was perfectly capable of finishing in traffic, his court vision allowed him to set up his teammates when double teams would inevitably come his way.

3. Damon Stoudamire

When it came to Damon Stoudamire, fans in Rip City had to take the good with the bad.

At 5’10″ on a good day, “Mighty Mouse” might have been one of the most fun players to watch during his time in Portland. He played with an aggressiveness that was surprising considering his smaller-than-average stature, and he proved that he could score from virtually anywhere on the court on any given night.

The problem with Stoudamire, aside from subpar defensive performances, was what he brought to the table off the court. He was notoriously part of the Jail Blazers era that turned away so many fans, and he was caught more than once in possession of substances that were, let’s say, less than legal.

While Stoudamire’s time with the Blazers was a mixed bag of ups and downs, it’s safe to say that he left in 2005 with fans still on his side. The Wilson High School product (Portland, Ore.) will always be thought of as the local kid who finally came home, as well as the player who set a then-franchise record with 51 points in a single game.

2. Geoff Petrie

If we’re talking true point guards, Geoff Petrie doesn’t belong anywhere near this list. He was a pure scorer, he loved the long ball and he played alongside Rick Adelman, who was much more of a floor general in the traditional sense.

However, Petrie was a combo guard before that became an NBA cliche, and he began to take over more facilitating roles as his career progressed.

Terry Porter is arguably the best point guard in Trail Blazers history. (Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Petrie, the “original Trail Blazer” was the team’s first-ever draft pick in 1970. His career was shortened by knee injuries – a sad fate that many of his successors would have to endure – but his playing days started off with a bang, as he was named a co-Rookie of the Year in 1971.

He averaged 21.8 points and 4.6 assists during his time with the team, but the truth is, that number would have been higher if he played during the three-point era. He could hit from deep with the best in the league, and that helped him average better than 24 points per contest in three of his six years with the team.

1. Terry Porter

When Terry Porter left the Trail Blazers organization in the mid-90s, the organization was officially in search of a new franchise point guard. In 2012, the team finally found that player in Lillard, showing just how high the bar was set following the departure.

In 10 years with the team, Porter posted averages of 14.9 points, seven assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. In 1989 – arguably the best year of his career – he averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

Although constantly overshadowed by Clyde Drexler, Porter is a major reason the franchise made it to two NBA Finals appearances in the early-90s.

He is the all-time Trail Blazers leader in assists and three-pointers made, and he always pushed the tempo of one of the most exciting teams in the league at the time.

Porter’s No. 30 jersey is hanging in the Rose Garden rafters for a reason, as he’s arguably the best point guard to ever suit up in a Trail Blazers uniform.

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The Portland Trail Blazers have officially announced that point guard Damian Lillard has been named the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The 22-year-old averaged an impressive 19.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.8 percent from deep range and recording a PER of 16.45.

Damian Lillard was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year over Anthony Davis.

The Beginning

Entering the 2012 draft, one thing was clear—the Blazers needed an upgrade at the point guard spot. The team opted to select Lillard with the No. 6 pick, but it wasn’t without risk, as Lillard’s score-first mentality and small-school background didn’t scream superstar to a number of scouts.

How would the point guard adjust to being a facilitator? Could he put up the kind of numbers he did at Weber State against NBA competition?

From day one it was clear that Damian Lillard was a special kind of player. His historic season opener was a sign of things to come, and now the team has reason to celebrate its first Rookie of the Year since the 2005-06 season.

Damian Lillard is the first NBA player with at least 21 points and nine assists in his first career game since LeBron James on Oct. 29, 2003

— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 1, 2012

Past Winners

Brandon Roy, the team’s most recent ROY recipient, went on to have a remarkable career before his playing days were shortened by bad knees. So long as Lillard avoids major injuries—Rip City might lose all faith if that happens—he’ll have a chance to truly lead Portland back into contention.

Preceding Roy in the PDX rookie honors was Sidney Wicks in 1972. The big man averaged 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 82 games his rookie year. Before him came the original Trail Blazer, Geoff Petrie, who split honors with Dave Cowens in 1971.

The Competition

No award is official until it’s announced. That being said, Lillard was the Rookie of the Year all season, and the competition was limited when it was all said and done.

Entering the season, Anthony Davis was the favorite to take home the award. He was the first pick in the draft, a defensive specialist and the overall safest pick both now and deep into the future.

At No. 6, Lillard was a chance worth taking, as he proved to be reliable from start to finish.

Behind Davis, Bradley Beal and Andre Drummond were next in line. Beal played an inconsistent brand of basketball to begin the year, while Drummond never saw enough minutes to truly be in the running.

There’s a reason Lillard swept the Rookie of the Month honors this season, and that fact alone proves that this was a decided race long before Wednesday’s announcement. He was a unanimous choice for the ROY honor, marking just the fourth time that’s happened in NBA history.

#Blazers‘ Damian Lillard joins Blake Griffin, Ralph Sampson and David Robinson as unanimous Rookie of the Year winner. Quite a feat.

— Mike Tokito (@mtokito) May 1, 2013

Style of Play

The Rookie of the Year battle isn’t a popularity contest, but getting the most attention certainly helps when it comes to recognition.

Lillard had a few things going for him this season. First, he’s a point guard in a point guard’s league. Ever since the enforcement of the hand-checking rule, perimeter players have been able to put their athleticism and playmaking skills on full display, allowing Lillard the regular opportunity to get to the rim.

Statistically, Damian Lillard had a bigger impact on the Blazers than Lamarcus Aldridge in 2012-13.

Lillard also loves the long ball. Luckily for him, so do fans, and that won him over in the eyes of many.

Finally, at 22 years old, he’s an absolute workhorse. Not only did he show that he can be counted on in clutch situations, but he logged more minutes than any player in the entire NBA.

People love watching this kid play, and that only helped his chances.

Impact on Team

Watching Lillard play, it was clear what he did for this team. He pushed the tempo, he found his teammates and he kept defenses honest with his ability to finish both at the rim and behind the three point line.

Lillard’s ability to help this team was apparent all season long, but the more noteworthy point to drive home is how badly the Blazers struggled when he was on the bench.

When Lillard went to the bench, Portland’s production dropped 12 points per 48 minutes. That’s the most on the team by a long shot, and the most of any of his rookie competition.

The Blazers may not be in the playoffs, but this is a major victory in Rip City’s franchise history. Fans have something to be excited about with Lillard, and a historic season should be just the start of a wonderful career.

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In case you haven’t noticed, the Portland Trail Blazers are in the midst of a significant rebuild. The 2012-13 season came and went without a trip to the playoffs, but if there was one positive takeaway, it was the performance of rookie Damian Lillard.

Damian Lillard did it on the court, but now he’s looking to make his impact felt in the free-agent market. Lillard hopes to recruit other players to come to Portland, and if he can do just that, it could solidify him as the leader this team needs moving forward.

With recent speculation surrounding LaMarcus Aldridge’s future (according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski), it’s more important than ever for this crew to acquire talent. Rip City has never been a marquee destination for free agents, but Lillard has the potential to shift that in the other direction.

According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW, Lillard is taking it upon himself to recruit talent to the great Northwest. The NBA has become a point guard’s league, and if the Blazers’ youngster can jump on the networking train early, he’ll have time to become the team’s No. 1 reason for others to join.

Damian Lillard and Gary Payton share a laugh at All-Star Weekend. (Photo: Noah Graham/Getty)

As refreshing as it is to hear Lillard say he’ll reach out right away, the bigger message here is his future with the team. He was quoted telling Haynes, “I see myself here for years to come,” and that’s exactly what Blazermaniacs want to hear out of their franchise floor general.

While a lot of NBA players make the move to bigger markets, Lillard notes that the pressure of those situations simply don’t exist in Rip City. Portland has long been known for having one of the best fanbases in the NBA, and with Lillard preaching that message, it’s about time that players around the league begin to notice.

Despite only having 82 games under his belt, it’s safe to say that Lillard will be a coveted commodity when his time comes to test the market.

However, he is the kind of player—and person—who values loyalty, which is something he’s carried with him since his time at Weber State.

Lillard stated in a preseason interview for Bleacher Report that he stayed with Weber State because they were “a family-oriented program” that believed in him from the beginning. He noted that his alliance with the Blazers wasn’t yet to that point, but that he hoped they could “build that type of relationship.”

After just one season, it appears as if the 22-year-old has begun to see a future in Portland. The team is his as long as he wants it, and adding talent is the best way to improve down the road.

The point guard has quickly become a leader since day one, and it’s time for him to extend that into the offseason.

He understands the impact he can have in a small market, and he is ready to take it upon himself to improve the team for “years to come.”

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