Will Chris Kaman settle for a mentor role?

When Chris Kaman signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2014, the intention was for him to come in as the No. 1 option off the bench. He knew this, Head Coach Terry Stotts knew this, and even though it was a step down from his starting role with previous teams, it worked out rather well because everyone was on the same page. Kaman led the Portland bench in points per game (8.6), rebounds per game (6.5), and blocks per game (0.7) in 2014-15. Gradual slowing as the season wore on aside, he functioned exactly as intended.

Kaman even embraced the role of mentor for Meyers Leonard, working with him in the post and teaching him to play more physically. Measuring Leonard’s progress to gage…