Trail Blazers’ Josh Hart to start at small forward in preseason opener, competition still ongoing

Josh Hart shoots during a Portland Trail Blazers practice at UC Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California, on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
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Josh Hart will start at small forward Monday night, when the Portland Trail Blazers play their preseason opener against the LA Clippers at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

However, Hart has not necessarily won the starting job over Nassir Little and Justise Winslow, coach Chauncey Billups said.

“I’m going to be rotating the guys all preseason,” Billups said after the Blazers’ morning shootaround.

Small forward is the only starting job in doubt with point guard Damian Lillard, shooting guard Anfernee Simons, power forward Jerami Grant and center Jusuf Nurkic already firmly in place.

The competition at small forward is one of the top storylines for the Blazers heading into preseason.

Tonight’s game starts at 7:30 p.m.

-- Aaron Fentress reported from Seattle, Washington.

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).

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