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.
More from Blazers News
- Blazers News: Portland signs FIBA WC standout center
- Blazers News: Portland re-signing failed lottery pick
- Portland Trail Blazers NBA 2K24 team, player ratings
- Woj: Blazers, Lillard ‘fully prepared’ for star to be with team in training camp
- 3 Underrated Blazers who could make a massive impact this season
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.