After disappointment, hope for the Portland Trail Blazers

The newly reassembled team has adopted a faster, up-tempo playing style, which will better suit Matthews, and perhaps Felton, starting in the backcourt with Crawford coming off the bench. The new offense should also complement forwards Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace, and it will be interesting to see how, after five years in the old system, Aldridge adjusts.

There are questions about the durability of veteran center Marcus Camby — who had knee issues last season — but the addition of Thomas should help out. Camby is 37, while Thomas is 39.

The Blazers are one of the deepest teams in the Western Conference.

"We like the identity of our team right now. We have some tough, hungry guys who feel that we're kind of overlooked in the West right now. I think our guys are going to come out there with a chip on our shoulders. I think the identity of our team will ultimately reflect Nate (McMillan) and his toughness and his business-first approach," Buchanan said.

Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, weighed in on his hopes for the season in a rare session with reporters before the preseason opener against the Utah Jazz.

He said he was pleased with the new additions to the team.

"People will talk about handicapping to say the usual suspects will be at the top of the conference but a bunch of us right below that — Are we just barely a playoff team? Are we potentially going to get out of the first round? Do more damage?" Allen asked.

"That's what makes sports exciting. You have to see how it plays out."