When the Portland Trail Blazers first signed Pau Gasol, it was with the intention of allowing the future Hall of Famer to take a backseat and focus on helping develop the young core — and specifically, Zach Collins — instead of playing meaningful minutes.
Well, fast forward just 13 games into the season, and that no longer seems like an option. Injuries have ravaged the roster. Collins himself is expected to be out at least until the end of the regular season.
Because of all these injuries to the frontcourt, the Trail Blazers were reduced to an 11-man rotation before the Carmelo Anthony signing.