Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Earl Watson is among the newest players for the Portland Trail Blazers and everyone is forgetting him. However, he plans on being a player that the Trail Blazers won’t forget during the season.
Watson was picked up by the Blazers as an NBA free agent from the Utah Jazz. He has 12 years of professional experience and has just about seen it all. He saw action in 48 games last season, averaging 17.3 minutes with 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and four assists per game.
Watson realizes his role is for more than just scoring. He’ll see action off the bench and will be expected to get a batch of key hits to help his team’s offense.
But what the Trail Blazers especially are hoping from Watson is a touch of veteran experience to help the team survive the level of competition in the NBA. During the 2012-13 season, the Blazers were leaderless although Damian Lillard was playing like a rookie of the year. But they lacked the team cohesiveness to hold them together.
Watson can be that glue. The Blazers expect him to be a teacher of sorts to Lillard and No.1 draft pick C.J. McCollum. Both have unlimited potential. Lillard has already shown what he can do. Watson is someone Lillard can look up to because of his vast knowledge of the game. He can only have a positive impact.
McCollum was the team’s No. 1 draft pick and figures to help the team offensively. He can learn plenty from Watson, who knows how to get the ball to his teammates when they’re shooting well. That’s what McCollum will have to do with the Trail Blazers.
