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Former Blazers player Steve Smith, now an analyst with NBA TV, will be in Portland to broadcast a training camp practice.

(Joel Davis/ The Oregonian)

Steve Smith, who played two seasons with the Trail Blazers and works as an analyst for NBA TV, was in Portland on Friday to broadcast practice as part of the network's "Real Training Camp" series.

Smith, who was a key part of the last Blazers team to reach the Western Conference Finals, was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Blazers after practice. Smith offered his take on the team's chances this season, the All-Star duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard, the free agent additions of Chris Kaman and Steve Blake and his time in Portland — including that infamous Game 7 collapse vs. the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000 Western Conference Finals.

Here's a transcript of the brief Q&A:

Q: What do you like most about the Blazers heading into the season?

A: "What I love about them, obviously they had a disappointing series against the San Antonio Spurs, but I think they're ahead of schedule. Also, you have a one-two punch in Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge that can carry a team. And then you have some young guys that still have so much room and years to improve. You always look at teams and you say, 'How can they get better?' And obviously you look at bringing in free agents sometimes. But this was a team that won 54 games last year and still has so many young guys in their first, second, third, fourth year, and those are the guys that get better.

And then there are two stars in LaMarcus and Damian Lillard. Obviously Damian Lillard is phenomenal and way ahead of schedule. And LaMarcus is far from being over the hill. So when you start talking about this team's upside, it's totally there on all levels. Then you bring in two veterans in Steve Blake and Chris Kaman, I think they are going to help those young guys. It's just unfortunate they're in the Western Conference." (laughs)

Q: With Blake and Kaman, those signings didn't get a lot of attention league-wide. But they're going to help. How would you evaluate the additions? How will they help this team?

A: "It's funny. Sometimes you look at moves — and, like you said, they're not huge as far as names that go across the entire association — but Steve Blake is one of those veterans that just fits well with this team. You can tell just by watching practice. And he makes home here in Portland. So you have a guy who's comfortable. He's played here, what, three times? Chris Kaman, if you want to draw up a Portland Trail Blazer, it's Chris Kaman. He just looks like he belongs. (laughs) And also, I think the pressure is off him. He can come in and be himself. And I think the little quirkiness of Robin Lopez and Chris Kaman fits this team. He'll have a chance to help those young guys and be that focus on that second unit. But also, they bring versatility. Steve Blake can play alongside Damian Lillard. And Chris Kaman can play with Lopez and then also can play with LaMarcus Aldridge and still keep LaMarcus Aldridge comfortable and not have to bang.

I don't know if you can have another versatile guy, like a Chris Kaman — I love Thomas Robinson and Meyers Leonard, but that still puts the onus on LaMarcus to be that banger when he's out there with those two guys. I think Chris Kaman and Robin Lopez embrace taking that role. And then Chris Kaman was an All-Star in this league. He's had a subpar, quirky last two or three years. But if he can give them solid minutes, it will be important. (Coach) Terry Stotts made a solid point; even though he didn't have the greatest year last year, he still averaged more points than anybody else (the Blazers) had coming off the bench. And I think CJ McCollum and also Will Barton will be good. And Dorell Wright, if he can get back to the player he was; he didn't have a bad year last year, but he could have done more and progressed. He'll be more comfortable this year. I think they solidified what was an Achilles heel for them — bench production. And not only points. It's now more sustainable where Terry Stotts can play those guys longer minutes and give the starters some rest. With Steve Blake, whether you're losing or not, you won't fell like things are slipping away when he's on the court."

Q: You mentioned how tough the West is. How do you stack the Blazers in the West?

A: "Before the playoff series, I thought Houston had an edge a little bit over the Blazers, but obviously the Blazers beat them. And that, psychologically, means a lot. They've lost a lot in my opinion. No Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik and Chandler Parsons. So I have the Blazers ahead of them. The teams I have ahead of Portland are, obviously, San Antonio, OKC and the (Los Angeles) Clippers. So I have the Blazers right at that four spot."

Q: You talked about the importance having Lillard and Aldridge is. How do you think they compare to the NBA's best duos?

A: "You have two All-Stars. And the question when you have two All-Stars always is: How far can they take you? I think this is the year that kind of defines them. Not individually. They're both talented. But how far can they elevate other guys? It's going to be the true test for both those guys. And then in the win column, can they advance to the Western Conference Finals?"

Q: There's at least seven and potentially more than 10 players who are in a contract year. You obviously went through that in your career. What's it like playing in that environment and how do you think that will affect this team?

A: "That's a great point. I've never seen it with that many guys who play major minutes. You obviously have the guys who are the No. 12, 13, 14 players on the roster. But you're talking about Wesley Matthews, LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez. That's three of five starters. It's very important. And, obviously, LaMarcus being the main one. I can't speak for him, but I think he'll be the easiest one to figure out. He'll be all right. I think Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez, financially — I'm not saying they're not set, we all are, we play in the NBA — but LaMarcus is going to get the max. Now with those other two guys, you have to balance sacrificing for the team and making as much money possible in your career. I think this contract is ... the big one for those guys."

Q: Looking back to you time in Portland, what do you remember from those days?

A: "First of all, the fans. That's first and foremost. Then the community. We enjoyed it here. I said it on the air, I've said it many other times, it came down to Atlanta and Portland. That was where we were going to make home. And me being from Michigan, my wife being from Louisiana, I think our family getting a chance to see our kids, was the reason why we chose Atlanta. To be on the East Coast. But we loved it here. We lived in Forest Heights. It was beautiful. The people were great. The school system was great. We came real close to moving here. So I root for the Blazers, even though I won a championship in San Antonio. Basketball-wise, that run we had, with that group that came together in just one year, was great. We came a quarter away from getting to the championship. And I think, being realistic, if we get to the championship, I think we win that. No disrespect to the Pacers. I think we had a chance to win multiple championships. We had only been together one year, so we were going to get better."

Q: Does that quarter (against the Lakers) still haunt you?

A: "Oh, my God. And I work with Shaq (O'Neal), so I still hear about it. He comes in and does the little thing when he gets the lob. [Smith points two fingers in the air and shimmies to mimic Shaq's famous celebration of a dunk in Game 7]. So it does still haunt me. Especially the way it went down. We were down 3-1. So to battle back and have a chance to get to the championship. It haunts me."

--Joe Freeman | @BlazerFreeman