Portland Trail Blazers: Predicting the starting five, and rotation for 2021

Big men

Jusuf Nurkic is the third-best player on this team and is such a key piece heading into the 2021 season. After missing 18 months and basically a full NBA season, he is in the best shape of his life heading into his 7th NBA season.

He will be the starting center, and to start the season, he will be backed up by the recently acquired Enes Kanter. Kanter will provide size, energy, and rim finishing with his big six-foot-eleven frame. I expect recent signing Harry Giles to push Kanter for the backup big spot though.

Giles is athletic and a great finisher at the rim. He is also a better defender than Kanter and is an excellent passer. Collins’ fitness will largely decide the rotation behind Nurkic, though.

If Collins is ready to go a month into the NBA season, he will back up the five and play some four in certain lineups. Collins is going into his fourth season with an eye on a rookie extension, so there is a lot of pressure to show he can be a rotation big in this league.

Giles could also potentially play some four against bigger lineups. For example, against the Los Angeles Lakers, he could guard Anthony Davis, while Nurkic could guard a big man like Marc Gasol.

This leaves just CJ Elleby and Keljin Blevins as players that won’t be in the rotation. I don’t expect to see either of these guys playing unless it’s garbage time or injury to the rotation players.

This is one of the deepest Blazer teams in many years. With true two-way players on the roster now, this team can take some steps defensively while also having one of the best offenses in the NBA.