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Blazers: 5 goals for Evan Turner to achieve in 2018-2019

By Nate Mann

Portland Trail Blazers Evan Turner (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers Evan Turner (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 27: Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard #0 talk before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 27: Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard #0 talk before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Three-point shooting

Every Blazers fans’ primary gripe with Evan Turner (besides his contract) is his three-point shooting. For a player who likes to hang on the perimeter when the ball isn’t in his hands, he sure does shoots poorly from out there.

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Over his eight-year career, Turner is a 30.1% three-point shooter. Last season was one of his best campaigns from outside – he knocked down 31.8% of his threes. Among Portland’s rotation players, that percentage ranked him behind all but Zach Collins, Ed Davis, and Jusuf Nurkic. None of them shoot as frequently or confidently as Turner does.

No specific type of three-pointer was good for him either. He shot 30.6% on catch-and-shoot opportunities and couldn’t capitalize on wide open attempts. With a defender four-to-six feet away, Turner made 30.4% of his threes, and with no defender closer than six feet, he only made 32.4%.

The point-forward doesn’t need to eliminate perimeter shooting from his offensive arsenal, but he should spend less time out there if the shots aren’t falling. He attempted 1.7 threes in 2017-2018, which is more than Portland needs after it added several outside threats to its reserve unit this summer.