Portland Trail Blazers: 5 goals for Noah Vonleh in 2017-18

1. Keep starting job

Noah Vonleh became the starting power forward by circumstance. Al-Farouq Aminu and Meyers Leonard struggled as starters, and Davis’ year was sidelined by injury. The lineup of Daman Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Maurice Harkless, Vonleh, and Nurkic played over 229 minutes together last season. The five produced 6.5 net points per 100 possessions.

That made it the team’s fifth-most productive lineup to play 70 minutes or more together. It was the second-most productive lineup to not feature Mason Plumlee.

There is a benefit to Vonleh being a starting power forward. His ability to play cleanup is valuable for the higher-usage players in the lineup around him. However, he needs to be more efficient when his number is called. A 10.8 Player Efficiency Rating will not cut it.

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If Vonleh can make improvements to his scoring and defensive aggression, he will be able to stave off the logjam of power forwards that are sitting on the bench. Accomplishing this goal would be major for such a young player. It would show that Noah Vonleh could be a valuable part of the Portland Trail Blazers’ future.