Will Barton is only 23 years old. He's been in the NBA two seasons, he only played 41 games last year while averaging 9.4 minutes per game, and he averages 4.0 points per game. Yet, according to Andrew Theen of The Oregonian, Portland superstar Damian Lillard thinks he's a Top 3 player on the Blazers, and the Rip City fan base has crowned him "The People's Champ." Lillard even went so far as to compare him to Lance Stephenson, who has the potential to grow into a perennial All-Star.
We know Barton how athletic this kid is, his acrobatic dunks proving his raw skill. He's followed a winning path throughout his life and has always been a shot of energy into every team he's played for. But could he emerge as a player who will help the Blazers rise above a conference elite that is one-in-one-out?
If nothing else, they can always turn to their new hammers for inspiration:
Each Blazers player was given one of these today from the organization. pic.twitter.com/e1kTQppNwY
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) October 28, 2014[via The Oregonian]
