Portland Trail Blazers: 3 goals for Gary Trent Jr’s. rookie season

3. Fill Pat Connaughton‘s role

This offseason, the Blazers decided to let Pat Connaughton walk in free agency. Connaughton had been with the Blazers for three seasons and had his most productive one last year. He played in all 82 games and started in five. For the season, he averaged 5.4 points, 2,0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.1 minutes per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from the 3-point line.

Connaughton’s 18.1 minutes per game are up for grabs this season, and Trent has an excellent shot at earning a big chunk of them. After the NBA Draft, Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey did in an interview with the media and was asked if he thinks Trent can step in and play right away:

"“I hope so. Physically, he is capable of playing in the NBA right away,” Olshey said. “His skill set translates, big-time shooter, physical defender. We’re all looking for shooting, and this is a guy who can step in right away and fill a void.”"

Trent does a lot of similar things to Connaughton, but he does them at a higher level. He is a better shooter, ball-handler, passer and has a higher basketball IQ.

Expect to see a ton of this from Trent this season.

Connaughton played a ton off the ball and was smart finding open spots to get his shot off. The Blazers like to get the basket and dish out when defenses crash in. Trent will have his opportunity to score and make plays.

The Blazers did sign Nik Stauskas this summer, but it would not be surprising at all to see Trent play more minutes as a rookie because of his potential impact on both ends of the floor.