Gone from the Portland Trail Blazers are four-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Arron Afflalo. The newcomers include Noah Vonleh, Mason Plumlee and Ed Davis.

Neil Olshey, the team's president of basketball operations, discussed the roster remake -- including the loss of Aldridge in free agency to the San Antonio Spurs -- on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Thursday:

" 'I really feel like there's nothing in our future but ascent. ... I think our goals for this season are going to be player development, growth, and looking -- is this group going to be sustainable? Can it move and grow forward the way the last group grew. ... I think our goal now is just to put the best pieces on the floor, younger guys. And if they're good enough to compete at the highest levels, then we'll make long-term commitments to them.' "

Olshey said he believes the early March injury that ended Matthews' season led to Aldridge's departure following nine seasons:

" 'We were absolutely confident all the way through the meetings with LaMarcus and all the communication in the offseason. Myself, Paul Allen, the entire organization did everything we could to keep him. When that was no longer viable, we pivoted and moved in another direction.' "