SF: Gary Trent Jr. vs Kawhi Leonard
While Coach Stotts recently told The Athletic’s Jason Quick he expects Carmelo Anthony to replace Trevor Ariza at the starting three, it’s likely Gary Trent Jr. will still see significant minutes at both the two and three positions. With Ariza missing Orlando for personal reasons and Rodney Hood still recovering from a left Achilles injury, Jaylen Hoard is the only real small forward expected to make the trip. Given Hoard’s inexperience, it is Trent Jr. who seems most poised to be the go-to backup.
When the Blazers face the Clippers on August 8, it may be in Portland’s best interest to swap Melo with Trent Jr. at the small forward position, where he would likely be taking on 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. While Melo is not the defensive liability critics claimed he would be upon return, expecting him to square off against one of the league’s most athletic players for 28+ minutes may be asking too much of the 36-year-old.
21-year-old Trent Jr., however, may be the perfect man for the job. In a season full of unexpected challenges, Trent Jr. was one of those few welcomed surprises over the past year. At this point, nothing can be said about him that hasn’t been already, the praise most certainly warranted A fearless competitor, Trent Jr. can defend, attack the basket, and as was mentioned recently, is quickly becoming a cold-blooded nightmare in crunch time.
If the Trent Jr. versus Leonard matchup becomes a reality, there is no denying who the better player is. Still, if the rising talent can hold his own against one of the league’s best, Portland will be well equipped to pull off a victory.