National Basketball Association

Trail Blazers Preview: Small Forward Rotation

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4). Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Join Rip City Project as they preview the Trail Blazers’ roster position by position. Today’s post features the small forward rotation.

The preseason is already upon us, so Rip City Project is taking this opportunity before the regular season starts to re-introduce everyone to the Trail Blazers’ roster. There wasn’t nearly the same amount of turnover this past summer, but there were some changes nonetheless. Portland now boasts one of their deepest rosters ever, and the minutes at the small forward spot should be the most competitive of all the position groups.

Today’s group features one familiar face in Maurice Harkless, and two new faces in Evan Turner and Jake Layman. Harkless claimed the starting small forward spot after injuries opened up the rotation in the final stages of the 2015-16 season. Once he entered the regular lineup the results were beneficial for both the team and Harkless. The Trail Blazers made an impressive run to the second round of the playoffs, and Harkless was rewarded with a new contract extension over the offseason.

Turner has already put Meyers Leonard‘s role as most polarizing player to the test, as his massive 70 million dollar contract has raised an ample amount of questions. Layman is the final member of this group, and figures to play the least amount of the three after being drafted in the later stages of the second round.

As we’ve mentioned in other previews, this list includes the players listed at small forward. Allen Crabbe is definitely a contender to compete for starting minutes at small forward, but we covered his prospects in the shooting guard preview. Along with Crabbe’s possible insertion, Turner and Harkless will likely find themselves lining up at several different positions throughout the season. With all of that being said, let’s now jump into the small forward rotation for the the Trail Blazers.

Sep 26, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) poses during media day at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Maurice Harkless

2015-16 Stats:

6.4 PPG / 3.6 RPG / 0.9 APG / .474 FG% / .279 3P%

Harkless was one of the recipients of Neil Olshey’s (GM) summer spending spree. His 4-year 40 million dollar deal looks fairly reasonable when you stack it up against some of the other expenditures that the Trail Blazers made during the offseason. Surprisingly, Harkless received very little interest from outside teams during the negotiation period. This is probably due to his small sample size as a major contributor. Portland only dropped five of the fourteen games that Harkless started at the tail-end of last season, so having the ability to run it back makes sense for both sides.

While many people are looking at Crabbe and Turner to fill the starting position, Harkless should be the favorite heading into the season. Although minor, he got the start in Portland’s opening preseason victory over the Jazz. He has two things working for him over his competitors. He gives the starting lineup a distinct size advantage at the small forward spot (unlike Crabbe), and he is capable of hitting opportune three point shots (unlike Turner).

Raising his three point efficiency will be paramount for Harkless’ chances at solidifying his spot with the starting rotation, but his continued defensive effort will be his biggest strength. As of now, he still appears to be the most likely candidate to start at the outset of the season.

Boston Celtics (now with the Trail Blazers) guard Evan Turner. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Evan Turner

2015-16 Stats:

10.5 PPG / 4.9 RPG / 4.4 APG / .456 FG% / .241 3P%

The Trail Blazers had a small window to spend their cap space, and the majority of it was used on bringing in Turner from the Boston Celtics. His massive payday was just one of many eye-popping contracts handed out over the summer. On the plus side, his acquisition (although expensive) makes sense for Portland. He is a capable ball handler and an above average defender on the perimeter, the latter of which is something that the Trail Blazers desperately need.

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If you thought Al-Farouq Aminu was an afterthought for opposing defenses during the playoffs last year – you are in for an even bigger dose of Turner being left completely alone on the perimeter. It should be clear that he wasn’t brought in for his shooting ability, but rather for his ability to let other players operate freely without the ball. On nights where the other players are hot from beyond the arc – Turner should be able to exploit the available space in the lane.

If Turner does lose out on the starting small forward spot, expect him to be a huge asset for the second unit. He resurrected his career while serving as the point guard for Boston’s reserves. A continuation of that role with the Trail Blazers should be the realistic expectation for his play over the next four years.

Sep 26, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jake Layman (10) poses during media day at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Layman

2015-16 Stats*:

11.6 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 1.1 APG / .500 FG% / .396 3P%

*Senior year at Maryland

The Trail Blazers didn’t own a draft pick going into the 2016 NBA Draft, but they felt the need to buy back in and select the athletic Layman out of Maryland. He is listed as a small forward, but his 6’9″ frame suggests that he might be capable of playing multiple positions at the next level. Other than his measurable, Layman is solid player that plays within himself.

His .500 FG% shows that he sticks to what he is good at and avoids trying to force his way into the box score. That is an important trait for a rookie trying to claim a spot on a very deep roster. Limiting mistakes and proving to be versatile will be the first two steps for Layman’s hopes of becoming a regular NBA player.

This year will be all about development for the 22-year-old. Other than the two things mentioned above, Layman will have to find his niche in the pro’s. Mastering a corner three point shot is usually a solid step in the right direction for young wing players.

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