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Blazers: 5 goals for Gary Trent Jr. to achieve in his rookie season

By Nate Mann

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Gary Trent Jr. #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Gary Trent Jr. #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 17: Gary Trent Jr. #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates on court with his teammates after winning the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 17, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 17: Gary Trent Jr. #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates on court with his teammates after winning the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 17, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Playmaking

In his solo college season, Trent Jr. rarely handled the ball. When he found himself in a situation forcing him to dribble, it would often result in a turnover.

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To fix that, Blazers Summer League coach Jim Moran let the rookie assume ball handling duties when Wade Baldwin IV rested. In a sharp turn, he only lost the ball twice despite having it in his hands more.

This careful ball handling earned Trent Jr. an (low-volume) assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.6, compared to a ratio of 1.4 with Duke.

Once dribbling becomes a more comfortable action, he can improve his court vision and turn into a more dynamic driver.

As previously mentioned, Trent Jr.’s three-point shooting opens the way for more chances to get to the basket. When he enters the paint, dribbling with his head up helps prevent getting blocked or double-teamed.

It also allows him to properly run a pick-and-roll. The opposing big man commits to Trent Jr. because the rookie is a versatile scoring threat, leaving the screener open. Trent Jr. then finds his teammate under the basket for an easy two points.