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The Portland Trail Blazers may struggle on the court this coming season after losing all but one of their starters from 2014-15. To help with the transition, the players have become a tight-knit group and to prepare for 2015-16 they have all reported to the team training facility three weeks ahead of the opening of training camp at the end of the month. From Mike Richman of The Oregonian: "The on-court gelling is roughly three days old for this iteration of the Blazers, but the off-court camaraderie started earlier in the offseason. C.J. McCollum, Allen Crabbe, Damian Lillard, Tim Frazier and Meyers Leonard -- the few holdovers from last year's team -- spent most of the offseason in Portland. When a handful of newcomers arrived in late August, McCollum and Lillard started discussing a team trip, a bonding experience where the team could find equal parts workouts and relaxation. ... Lillard initially proposed a team getaway and McCollum came up with the idea of San Diego, a warm-weather leisure destination without the distractions "of non-basketball related activities" offered by more common NBA vacation spots like Los Angeles and Las Vegas. ... Lillard spearheaded the idea of a trip, the type of leadership the franchise would hope for from a player recently given a $120 million contract extension. Lillard has also been a driving force in organizing voluntary workouts at the practice facility. McCollum said this type of leadership is nothing new for Lillard." Lillard is clearly the face of the franchise now after signing his max, five-year extension on July 9. He will really have to play at a high level this coming season if the team is to have any shot at landing in the top-8 of the Western Conference at the end of the year.
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