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Fansided

Visualizing the Portland Trail Blazers 2019-20 depth chart

By Austin Carroll

PORTLAND, OR - September 30: Zach Collins #33 Damian Lillard #0 and Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the team's annual Fan Fest open scrimmage September 30, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - September 30: Zach Collins #33 Damian Lillard #0 and Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the team's annual Fan Fest open scrimmage September 30, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers – Kent Bazemore (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers – Kent Bazemore (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Small Forward Rotation

Starter: Kent Bazemore

Kent Bazemore is a player capable of playing shooting guard or the wing, but with this current team’s composition it makes much more since to start him at small forward. Considering Evan Turner hasn’t started more than half a season since 2015, the Bazemore trade looks better by the day.

Bazemore is a sturdy defender who should hopefully fill the shoes of Moe Harkless well.What sets him apart from Harkless however, is his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc. Bazemore has hit 35.5 percent of his 3-point shots over the last five years, 84.4 percent of which were assisted last year.

This indicates Bazemore knows how to position himself to stretch the defense and make opposing teams respect his shot. At least they better respect his shot, because his position in the starting lineup is depending on it. A pair of capable players lay behind him in the pecking order just waiting for a chance to prove they’re worth a shot.

Bench: Mario Hezonja, Nassir Little

Mario Hezonja is a formerly highly touted prospect out of Croatia, who was selected No. 5 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He is seeping with natural talent, but just hasn’t had the right environment to showcase his full potential. However, the Orlando Magic have one of the worst development teams in the league and the New York Knicks are extremely dysfunctional. Perhaps the Portland Trail Blazers will be the team to coax out his abilities on a fire sale price.

Nassir Little was originally projected as a top five selection in this year’s draft before running into obstacles at North Carolina. Little just might be one of the most talented and athletically gifted players on the team, but he’s far from a finished product. Expect to see Little in a reduced role this year, similar to Simons and Trent Jr last year.