The Oregonian/OregonLive is taking a player-by-player look at the Portland Trail Blazers roster heading into the offseason.
Other posts: Nassir Little; Justise Winslow; Trendon Watford; Greg Brown III; Keon Johnson; CJ Elleby; Brandon Williams; Ben McLemore; Drew Eubanks; Elijah Hughes; Keljin Blevins; DiDi Louzada; Joe Ingles; Eric Bledsoe; Reggie Perry; Kris Dunn.
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Today: Josh Hart, 27, 6-foot-5, guard.
Contract status: Hart is due to make $12.9 million next season, but his contract is non-guaranteed. If the Blazers pick up his deal, Hart would have a player option worth $12.9 million in 2023-24.
Likelihood to return: The Blazers would only consider declining Hart’s contract if they needed the cap space to land a proven star. Otherwise, Hart figures to be a major part of the team’s future plans and comes with a relatively cheap price tag over the next two seasons.
Given that Hart could opt out after next season, it could prove beneficial for the Blazers to try to lock him into a longer deal if the price is right.
2021-22 contributions: Hart came to the Blazers in the trade that sent CJ McCollum to New Orleans. Hart started 13 games for the Blazers, averaging 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 50.3% from the field and 37.3% on threes.
He scored a career-high 44 points in a 127-118 win over Washington on March 12. Hart made 15 of 21 shots, including 6 of 9 threes, and also had eight rebounds and six assists.
A knee injury ended Hart’s season in late March.
Strengths/weaknesses: Those who have been critical of the McCollum trade often dismiss Hart’s value. But the Blazers have indicated the opposite. Coach Chauncey Billups said that the team specifically wanted Hart in that deal because they value what he brings to the court.
Hart demonstrated his versatility on offense, not only as a shooter but also in transition. Billups said he liked the fact that Hart, from any position, can initiate the fast break and make smart decisions in transition.
Defensively, Billups said he values Hart’s willingness to give effort and compete while not backing down from any challenge.
Hart is not an elite scorer or defender, but he possesses a lot of positive traits, some in areas where McCollum was weak. For that reason, the Blazers have placed a high value on Hart moving forward and did not view him as merely a throw-in.
According to Billups, Hart is a perfect fit in the team’s system given that they already have high-volume, small-guard scorers in Lillard and Simons and were lacking in perimeter defenders. Hart can effectively defend both guard positions as well as small forwards.
2022-23 outlook: Hart said he expects to return next season and that management has given him that reassurance, unless something drastic happens. That could involve the Blazers finding themselves in a position to acquire a star in a move that would require either trading Hart or terminating his contract.
But the plan, for now, is that Hart will be a huge part of the team’s plans. He said during exit interviews that general manager Joe Cronin and Billups told him he would be more guard dominant and have the ball in his hands more often.
“That’s something I’m excited about,” Hart said.
He pointed out that he has spent time at a lot of different positions but looks forward to spending more time at guard. But he is open to playing wherever he is needed.
“I prefer anything that puts me on the court,” he said.
Given the current construction of the roster, Hart could start at small forward while also backing up Anfernee Simons at shooting guard. Or, Hart could come off the bench as the sixth man behind both Simons at guard and Nassir Little at small forward.
Hart indicated that he could also run the point at times allowing Simons and/or Lillard to play off the ball.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
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