Predicting the 2022 Portland Trail Blazers Lineups

3. Small Forward: Josh Hart

Josh Hart was the key piece of the trade that sent CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2021/22 season, and after averaging 20 PPG during his first half season in Portland, it’s clear that Hart is ready to step into a starting lineup of a playoff caliber team. Sure, his defence isn’t where it needs to be to be guarding names like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the top small forwards in the league, but his offensive game is fantastic, and with Lillard back, it will make him that much better.

Hart has been seemingly on the verge of a breakout for years now, and although he hasn’t stepped up to join the All-Star caliber group that many expected him too, he has been steadily improving each and every year, but he’s never played with a point guard as good as Lillard. For the Blazers to reach the playoffs and have a chance at making a run, a breakout season for Hart could be beneficial, but if he can maintain the production he had a year ago with an improvement on the defensive end and with his efficiency, we may see him be a fringe All-Star in 2022.