Meanwhile, the Blazers' road just got tougher

And to think, it was only a little over a month ago the Portland Trail Blazers were the second-best team in the Western Conference.

Now they also have to worry about the Le-Lakers.

And what’s left of the Warriors.

And the Clippers.

Wait, what?

Clippers? Relevant?

When did you think you would see “Clippers” and “relevant” used together.

Before they moved north to play second fiddle to the Lakers, the Clippers were in San Diego — where an injury riddled Bill Walton toiled between NBA title runs with the Trail Blazers and the Celtics.

Before that, they were the Buffalo Braves, featuring high-scoring forward Bob McAdoo and his drawstring hanging out of his shorts.

But, with the news late Friday night that free agent Kawhi Leonard chose to sign with the Clippers after they were able to acquire Paul George in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the landscape in the city — and the league — changed.

Two guys who shined in the middlin’ Mountain West Conference (Leonard at San Diego State, George at Fresno State) have teamed up to take on the Lakers for superiority in L.A.

Randy Newman, what you got?

WHAT DOES all this madness mean for Portland?

The Blazers are the closest thing we have to a regional team, since Seattle lost the SuperSonics 11 years ago.

Zipping over to Seattle to watch the M’s or the Seahawks or the Huskies is no big deal for us folks in North Idaho.

Trekking to Portland — though it’s only 70 miles farther — to see the Blazers isn’t something you hear people around here talk about much.

That is, unless it’s a chance to watch visiting stars come to town, like LeBron on whichever team he is on at the time, or the Warriors.

Besides, Seattle fans aren’t supposed to root for Portland teams, or so the talk goes around here. Rivals, and all that fun stuff.

Meanwhile, if you’re a Sonics fan, you’re probably still laughing hysterically about the latest star to leave Russell Westbrook and the Thunder.

In retrospect, that 37-foot dagger by Portland’s Damian Lillard spelled the end of the former Sonics franchise, at least for a few seasons. Russell Westbrook remains in OKC, for better or for worse.

In any event, that’s a long time for Sonics fans to hang on to that hatred, but I guess that’s just part of being a fan.

Right now, the Blazers consist of Lillard and CJ McCollum, and a bunch of other guys with first and last names. They need somebody else — perhaps cute and cuddly former Zag Zach Collins? — to step up so Lillard and McCollum don’t have to carry the whole team.

The fact Draymond Green didn’t even have to cover his man told you all you need to know about what the Warriors thought about defending the other three Blazers on the floor. And even though Portland led by 17 points or more in three of the four games in the Western Conference finals, the Dubs — even without KD — weren’t all that concerned as they swept the Blazers.

OH WELL.

At least Friday night’s earthquake and the Kawhi/George news diverted some of the national media frothing over Zion Williamson’s NBA debut — albeit against a bunch of guys who will be playing somewhere other than the NBA this fall.

Good luck to him and everything. Seems like a great kid. Man-child. Now go work on that jump shot.

And last I checked, Zion and RJ Barrett and the rest of their NBA first-round talent at Duke not only didn’t win the national championship last season, they didn’t even make it to the Final Four. And the Blue Devils were lucky to advance past the first weekend.

But go ahead and keep trumpeting these one-and-done schools.

IN A way, by not being drafted, former Zag Zach Norvell Jr. fell into a great situation with the Lakers. He comes cheap, which fits their remaining budget after they pay LeBron and Anthony Davis. If Norvell can make his shots, he’s got a chance to stick with an NBA title contender.

That is, unless the other team that plays in Staples Center becomes one first.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.