There has been a lot of talk about how the Portland Trailblazers are the model for rebuilding in the NBA. For the 5-32 Wolves, this comparison is more apt than people first realize.

With a record of 21-61, the 2005-06 Blazers were one of the worst teams in NBA history. They ranked 30th in the league for offensive efficiency (101.1), 28th in defensive efficiency (111.9), 28th in pace (90.1), and carried a -9.5 ppg differential with a league-low 16-66 Pythagorean W-L mark. This year’s Wolves rank 28th in offensive efficiency (100.8), 30th in defensive efficiency (111.1), 12th in pace (94.8), while carrying a -9.5 ppg differential with a league low 8-29 Pythagorean W-L mark.

When comparing the rosters, the similarity becomes even uncannier: The 2006-06 Blazers featured a rotation of Zach Randolph, Juan Dixon, Joel Pryzbilla, Steve Blake, Viktor Khryapa, Jarrett Jack, Theo Ratliff, Ruben Patterson, Sebastian Telfair, and Travis Outlaw. Voshon Lenard, Martell Webster, and Sergi Monia also saw significant minutes during the season.

At 6-9/253, Zach Randolph was an undersized 4/5 combo who averaged 18.9pts, 8.4 reb, and an eFG% of 44% per 36 minutes played with a 16.9 PER.

As an undersized (6-3) 2, Juan Dixon averaged 17.5pts, 3.3 reb, 2.8 ast, and an eFG% of 47% per 36 minutes played with a 14.6 PER.

Comparatively, Al Jefferson (an undersized 4/5 combo) is averaging 19.9 pts, 11.7 reb, and an eFG% of 48% per 36 minutes with a 21.9 PER. Rashad McCants (an undersized 6-4 2 guard) is averaging 19.4 pts, 3.9 reb, 2.9 ast, and an eFG% of 51% per 36 minutes played with a 14.2 PER. (Big Al’s Basketball Reference page cites Zach Randolph as having the most similar season by age as young Mr. Jefferson.)

In 2005-06, Bassy averaged 14.1 pts, 5.4 ast, 2.5 to, 2.6 reb, with an eFG% of 44% per 36 minutes played with a 13.0 PER. This year, he is averaging 10.2 pts, 6.4 ast, 2.3 TO, 2.5 reb, with an eFG% of 40% per 36 minutes played with a 9.6 PER.

In 2005-06, Steve Blake averaged 11.3 pts, 6.2 ast, 1.7 TO, 3.0 reb, with an eFG% of 51% per 36 minutes played with a 14.5 PER. In 37 games this year Marko Jaric is averaging 11.4 pts, 5.5 ast, 2.9 TO, 3.6 reb, with an eFG% of 47% per 36 minutes played with a 12.5 PER.

You can find similar in-the-same-ballpark matchups between Darius Miles/Ruben Patterson and Ryan Gomes, Travis Outlaw and Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff and Theo Ratliff…well, you get the picture.

The bottom line with the 2005-06 Blazers and 2007-08 Wolves squads is that you’d be hard-pressed to find 2 more similar teams in recent NBA memory: a tweener 4/5 who can get you a lot of points and rebounds on a nightly basis, mediocre-to-bad guard play, shaky backups at the 5, poor swingman play, etc. Both teams were at or near the bottom of the league in offensive and defensive efficiency and point differential. They also have remarkably similar 3PFG% and FG%.

In the 37th game of the 2005-06 season, the Portland Trailblazers rolled out a starting lineup of Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Viktor Khryapa, Joel Pryzbilla, and Zach Randolph. Against Golden State, the Wolves started Sebastian Telfair, Marko Jaric, Rashad McCants, Ryan Gomes, and Al Jefferson. The Blazers were 13-24 at the time. The Wolves are 5-32. (Later in the 2005-06 season, Theo Ratliff would take Mr. Pryzbilla's place in the line up and Bassy would come off the bench for Mr. Blake, leaving the worst team in the league with a line up of Bassy, Juan Dixon, Viktor Khryapa, Zach Randolph, and Theo Ratliff. This is essentially the same lineup that the Wolves will run out on the court when Ratliff returns to action.)

If the Wolves are going to rebuild a’la Portland, it would be helpful to look at exactly what Portland did to get from 21-61 in 2005-06 to where they are today.

• May 31, 2006: Announced the contract of general manager John Nash will not be extended; named Steve Patterson interim general manager.
• June 29, 2006: Traded guard Sebastian Telfair, center Theo Ratliff and a 2008 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for forward Raef LaFrenz, guard Dan Dickau and the rights to guard Randy Foye; traded forward Viktor Khryapa and the rights to forward Tyrus Thomas to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to forward LaMarcus Aldridge and a future second-round pick; traded the rights to guard James White to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to forward Alexander Johnson and two future second-round picks; traded Randy Foye to the Timberwolves for Brandon Roy
• July 2006: Waived Nikoloz Tskitishvili and re-signed Joel Pryzbilla.
• August: Acquired Jamaal Magloire from the Bucks for Blake, Skinner and Ha Seung-Jin; Magloire's contract expired in 2007 and he signed with the New Jersey Nets.
• October 2006: Exercised 3rd year options on guards Jarrett Jack and Martell Webster.
• Feb 22, 2007: traded Juan Dixon to Raptors to Fred Jones.
• Mar 29, 2007: promoted Kevin Pritchard to the GM post
• Draft Day 2007: Drafted Greg Oden, Josh McRoberts, Derrick Byars, Taurean Green, and Demetris Nichols. Traded Randolph, Dickau, and Fred Jones were traded to the Knicks for Channing Frye, Steve Francis, and a $3 mil trade exception; traded $3 mil trade exception to the Suns for 24th pick and James Jones; traded Derrick Byars to 76ers for Petteri Koponen; traded Demetris Nichols to the Knicks for future 2nd round pick.

Portland also bought out Steve Francis, signed Steve Blake, and re-signed Travis Outlaw. In short, the Blazers utilized large contracts as trade leverage, were not afraid to buy out large deals, hoarded 2nd round picks, and made the most of trade exceptions to build through the draft. In the 2 drafts since 2005-06, the Blazers drafted or traded for 10 different players on draft day.

If the Blazers are truly the model to which the Wolves will rebuild according to, then what can our beloved Puppies do with their large expiring contracts (other than letting them expire), how can they maximize draft picks, and how much salary is Taylor willing to buy out in order to get rid of dead weight? Surely something needs to happen. Stay tuned to my fantasy general manager take on what the Wolves need to do in order to right the ship within 3 years.