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Portland Trail Blazers: Predicting starting lineup and rotation for ’22 season

By Stevie Cozens

Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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Norman Powell, Portland Trail Blazers
Norma Powell, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Starting small forward – Norman Powell

Backup small forwards – Derrick Jones Jr, Nassir Little Robert Covington, Tony Snell, Ben McLemore

When you read the list of twos and threes, you can see just how stacked the wing rotation is for the Blazers now. Powell is the clear starting three, and after signing a big five-year $90 million extension, his role on the team is clear.

Powell is more of a two than a three in my eyes, but he does have the length and strength to guard threes, and also slash to the rim on offense. The other big reason for bringing Powell back and running this three-guard lineup, was the success that this unit. With Robert Covington and Jusuf Nurkic, this five-man lineup was the best in the league down the stretch of the regular season.

Nassir Little had an impressive second season as a backup wing last season, but with the packed rotation when you include Derrick Jones Jr, it’s hard to see where Nas fits in. He definitely won’t be playing any backup two next season, and I feel back up three and four is more suited to his game.

Jones Jr and he will likely fit it out for backup three, with Snell and McLemore potentially in the mix if their three and d form is on point. The wing positions are so competitive for the 2022 season.