Trail Blazers will open training camp with J.J. Hickson starting at center

Trail Blazers will open training camp with J.J. Hickson starting at center

And although this Blazers season will be littered with a heavy dose of new — from coach to general manager to an overhauled roster that features five rookies — Stotts says he will open training camp with Hickson at center, in part, because of his history with the team.

“J.J. is the incumbent,” Stotts said. “I’m not saying he’s going to be the starting center opening night. We’ll have to see how training camp goes, see how the preseason goes, and then we’ll make that determination. Meyers (Leonard) has played very well (this summer). But it’s just like politics: J.J. has been here, he’s the returner, so going into it he has the advantage.”

Who starts at center is just one of many questions looming over the franchise as the Blazers prepare for a rebuilding season that is sure to feature plenty of bumps and bruises along the way. The Blazers’ 15-man roster averages just 25.0 years old, likely making it one of the youngest in the NBA this season.

— Reported by Joe Freeman of theĀ Oregonian

Author: Inside Hoops

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