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Trail Blazers: Small Forward Battle Brewing

By Steven Dewald

Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) dribbles as Trail Blazers center Ed Davis (17) screens Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the third quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) dribbles as Trail Blazers center Ed Davis (17) screens Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the third quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Who will claim the small forward spot in the Trail Blazers’ starting rotation?

The Trail Blazers are heading towards a highly competitive training camp this fall. The current roster is loaded with depth, which should spawn some enthralling battles. The center rotation has garnered a lot of attention, but the small forward spot could prove to be the most competitive for Portland.

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Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless, and Allen Crabbe are set to compete for minutes at small forward. All three players are entering the 2016-17 season on new contracts, which makes the battle for minutes unusually layered for a typical position battle. It is assumed that the Trail Blazers will stick to their promise to Turner, but it is foolish to think he will just be handed the job outright based on an offseason guarantee.

Crabbe is the highest paid and the longest tenured of the trio. Unlike Harkless, Crabbe wasn’t dependent on significant injuries to find a path to meaningful playing time. His passing and dribbling skills lag behind Turner, but he surpasses him in a big way when it comes to shooting. Despite being better suited for the shooting guard position, expect Crabbe to get an extended audition in the role of starting small forward. Floor spacing is crucial in Terry Stotts’ offense and Crabbe is the clear-cut best option for doing just that.

“It isn’t crazy to think that Harkless has a legit shot at retaining his role with the starters…”

Harkless’ prolonged contract negotiation has many people assuming that he doesn’t have a shot at cracking the starting rotation. Yes it took injuries by both Meyers Leonard and Noah Vonleh for him to claim a starting spot, but he quickly proved himself as a positive force when placed with the starters. His solid playoff performances helped propel the Trail Blazers past the Clippers in the opening round (12.7 PPG against LAC).

It isn’t crazy to think that Harkless has a legit shot at retaining his role with the starters going forward. His length and athleticism are huge difference makers on both ends of the court, which is something that his competition lacks. Outside of his direct benefits to the success of the starting lineup, Harkless could prove to be a valuable trade-chip down the road. Showcasing his talent with the starters is the best way to bolster his market value.

Mar 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) dunks the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the first quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) dunks the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the first quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

It is clear that Neil Olshey had a plan for this roster over the summer. He quickly targeted Chandler Parsons to open free agency, which eventually transitioned into signing Turner. It became obvious that Olshey wanted to insert a dynamic force into the lineup via the small forward position.

You have to assume that Olshey knew he’d have a solid chance at retaining both Harkless and Crabbe, which makes the Turner signing even more telling. Taking pressure off of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum appears to be the goal. Turner seems to be the best equipped player of the trio to undertake a hefty amount of the ball handling duties. Expect more teams to mimic the Clippers’ defensive approach this year (hyper-aggressive trapping), so having a third ball-handler on the court will be imperative for Portland.

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Each option is a solid choice, which is a new luxury for the often depth deprived Trail Blazers. The competition in training camp should bring out the best in each player, so fans have every reason to be excited about what this season could hold for Rip City.