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Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking every player on the 2021 roster

By Stevie Cozens

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Number 5 – Gary Trent Jr.

Gary Trent Jr. was the best three-point shooter in the NBA Bubble seeding games just a few months ago. At just 21, Trent shot 50 plus percent from three on high volume, then did a commendable job on LeBron James in the first round of the playoffs.

Averaging a surprising 17 points a game in the seeding games, Trent made clutch shots down the stretch and showed he has the range and guts to be a player at the highest levels for this team.

His defense came on in leap and bounds in the 2020 season, and now that he has a firm bench role in his sights, Trent can focus on being the main guard to come off that bench.

Having a point of attack defender at six-foot-five with a plus wingspan who can make some of the league’s best perimeter players work means that senior offensive players like Lillard and McCollum can guard lesser players on the defensive end.

Before the 2022 season begins in under 12 months, Trent will be looking to negotiate an extension with the Blazers and his new agency – Klutch Sports. This season is key for him if he wants to push that payday well over $10 million a year.

Number 4 – Robert Covington

When Neil Olshey traded Trevor Ariza for Robert Covington before the NBA Draft, the Blazers got a perfect forward upgrade, who was not only five years younger, but under contract for two more years as well.

It’s been a little while since the Blazers had a recent All-Defensive team member, so Covington’s presence will make a massive difference for a team that couldn’t get stops, or rebound, in the 2020 season.

Covington is one of the best help defenders in the NBA and makes excellent rotations to either block shots or get deflections and steals.

Offensively, he is one of the best role-playing volume shooters in the NBA. He makes an excellent two three-pointers a game on league-average efficiency of 35.6 percent.

Not many players can combine this volume of attempts with a strong efficiency; Covington will get plenty of open looks for this team.