After the Portland Trail Blazers got swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the second straight year, the front office faced a pretty daunting ‘to do’ list. Near the top of the list lies a simple question: “What is the long-term answer at the small forward position?”
Last year, Evan Turner started 40 games for the Blazers at small forward while Maurice Harkless started 36. Harkless was limited to just 59 total games due to injury and overall ineffectiveness. Even so, Portland was at their best when Harkless led.