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Assessing the Portland Trail Blazers options at small forward

By Stevie Cozens

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Portland Trail Blazers Forward Mario Hezonja (44) looks on during a NBA game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 7, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Portland Trail Blazers Forward Mario Hezonja (44) looks on during a NBA game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 7, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers have several options at the small forward position. What do each of the potential options provide at this position?

Portland Trail Blazers starting small forward and NBA veteran Trevor Ariza recently made himself unavailable for the NBA’s return in Orlando. Now the Blazers are on the hunt for other players to fill these 48 minutes at the small forward position.

Though Terry Stotts has said that Carmelo Anthony will play a lot of small forward, it’s not likely to be more than 30 minutes a night. With a combination of center options available, it’s expected that Melo will play some minutes at the four next to Jusuf Nurkic, Hassan Whiteside, or maybe even Zach Collins. Let’s break down the options available for the Blazers at small forward.

Small forward option number one – Carmelo Anthony

Melo’s scoring game is still strong enough that he can credibly play the small forward position. The main issue is that defensively, Melo is going to struggle to defend the quicker wings when he plays this position.

Because CJ McCollum isn’t a strong defender, this means that he and Melo have to defend, if they played the Boston Celtics, for example, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Quick wings like this will torch Melo.

McCollum is a bit faster, but because of his small frame, he will get outmuscled by anyone of decent size on the perimeter. Melo plays hard, and this year he has tried on defense, but he wasn’t a good defender even at the peak of his physical powers. Melo is a four these days, and also the new, slimmed-down, post-COVID Melo will be unable to contain the Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard’s of this world.

Against specific teams, Melo can play the three, but Terry Stotts shouldn’t make a habit of it against teams with dual-wing threats.