The Trail Blazers acquired Josh Hart last week in the trade that sent CJ McCollum to New Orleans, and Hart is the exact type of player coach Chauncey Billups wants, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
“He’s my type of player from the standpoint of just being able to go and play both sides of the basketball and just be tough,” Billups said. “Not only tough, but skilled.”
Billups said Hart’s competitiveness shines through: “When he’s out there, he plays with a level of urgency that you love. I’m looking forward to just coaching him.”
In three games with his new club (all wins), Hart is averaging 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on .600/.524/.765 shooting. Through 44 total games this season (33.7 minutes), he’s averaging 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on .514/.351/.754 shooting.
Here’s more from Portland:
- Hart and rising star Anfernee Simons have showcased great chemistry in their brief time together, Fentress writes in a separate piece for The Oregonian. “He’s going to have a long, successful career in this league,” Hart said of Simons, after Portland beat New York 112-103 on Saturday. “For me, it was just really cool to be able to play off of him and see him take over the game in the third and fourth.”
- Jason Quick of The Athletic recently wrote an in-depth profile of two-way rookie Trendon Watford, who has become a regular member of Portland’s rotation since the start of 2022. “I’m just scratching the surface,” Watford said. “I’m going to keep getting better.”
- After dropping six straight games, the surging Blazers have won four in a row, due in no small part to the high-energy, all-around contributions of Hart and Justise Winslow. “I think he has found a home,” Nurkic said of Winslow, according to Quick of The Athletic. Through six games with Portland, Winslow is averaging 12 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in 31.3 minutes per contest.
- Winslow concurs with Nurkic’s assessment, per Casey Holdahl of the team’s website. “I was just traded here, I’m very happy to be here. God works in his beautiful ways,” said Winslow. “I’ve found a home. I don’t want to go anywhere, I’ve got one more year on this contact. It feels like everyone here is kind of fresh. There’s people in the organization that’s been here a long time but the coaching staff, a lot of the players just got here… I think it’s a good time for me in my life and also my basketball career.” Winslow was acquired as part of the trade that sent Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers.
2022 Ant Simons = 2003 Gilbert Arenas
Probably the boldest prediction ever, but… hopefully you right, league always can do with one more shinning star, right?
How is this a bold prediction lol? Tbh it’s not a prediction at all, it’s a comparison of Ant rn in his 1st real stretch as a permanent starter to where Arenas was in his 1st yr as a starter. Very similar players, very similar circumstances & very similar level of production. But even if it was a prediction I don’t see it as being that bold. Gilbert was extremely talented & was a top5 guard in the league during his prime but Ant has just as much talent if not more & it’s extremely apparent for pretty much every game he’s played in the past month or so, especially the past 4
Bledsoe + Ingles + 2 1sts for Domantas Sabonis
Ingles is a FA at end of season. No rights to trade him.
Bledsoe + 2 1sts for Domantas Sabonis
Kings fans are currently trying to have you disbarred, thrown off the force, deposed, have your tenure taken away & cancel your podcast for proposing this. They just traded for Domas. They’re VERY OBVIOUSLY not gonna immediately give him up to a conference rival for nothing
Sac won 1 out of 3 so far with Sabonis… of course we should give it some time to let the new team gel, but if this pace continues for the remainder of the season… then those two lottery picks next draft are going to look real good.
They’re 2-2 with Sabonis & if that pace continues they’ll be in the playoffs for the first time in nearly 2decades
Portland made a smart and nifty trade. They unload an aging overpaid CJ for NWA, and underrated Josh Hart, and draft capital. Moreover, Simons is an up and coming star. Portland’s future is looking a bit brighter now.
Justise Winslow has been all over the floor since getting this chance in Portland, finally playing the correct positions, and being used around generally the right fits. They got rid of their wings they had finally accumulated, and then were able to replace that by getting Josh Hart back, which was a big deal. Those guys are winning players, and they’ve shown it so far, with space and opportunity around them
Which position the 4