Point Guard Rotation
Damian Lillard – 35 MPG
Damian Lillard will be back in full force next season, but thankfully he should no longer have to shoulder such an immense offensive load every night. His usage rate has been in steady decline since 2017 as his running mate CJ McCollum improves. This time around however, he’ll have an entire supporting cast full of offensive weapons that can shoot and crash the boards.
Lillard has averaged 35 minutes per game in precisely five of his seven NBA seasons, so this projection lines right up with the mean. It wouldn’t be too surprising if his minutes take a little dip however, with the league making a big transition to load management for its biggest stars. He will also have a more capable backup than Evan Turner this time around.
Anfernee Simons – 19 MPG
As a combo guard, Anfernee Simons will likely see significant play time at both guard positions depending on the lineups the Blazers opt to run out on the court. The front office has made no secret of the expectations they have for Simons in the upcoming season, going so far as to name him the most talented player the Blazers have drafted since Lillard.
"“In terms of his natural gifts at his age, and his God-given talent, it rivals anybody else that I’ve drafted in my career. Now, I don’t know if he’ll reach that ceiling as a player and put it all together, but the things that you basically can’t teach, in terms of just intrinsic talent, he has.” -Neil Olshey"
Don’t be surprised if he sees more and more play time as the season progresses, because Simons will have many opportunities to impress. Staggering his minutes next to McCollum will allow Simons to really shine without the full attention of the opposing defense, creating a lethal offensive threat even when Lillard rests.