Portland Trail Blazers: 3 goals for Gary Trent Jr. in 2020-21

1. Crash the boards

Last season Trent averaged just 1.6 rebounds per game. While this number is not massive, as long as Hassan Whiteside plays for the Trail Blazers, he will collect the majority of the rebounds. However, there is a chance that Whiteside will be playing elsewhere next season as a free agent this offseason.

Whiteside is coming to the end of his massive deal that he signed with the Miami Heat. With a lack of quality free agents this offseason, there could be big money offers tabled for Whiteside to consider.

This means that players like Trent need to work even harder next season to secure the defensive rebound. With the intensity that he shows on the defensive end of the court, Trent will be able to take on this challenge easily.

If he shows a willingness to get into the paint and do the dirty work on the boards, there is a good chance that coach Terry Stotts will continue to expand Trent’s minutes as he is contributing in other ways, even if his shot is not falling.

Trent is in the final year of his deal. He will need to showcase this development in his game if he is going to get paid next offseason. While there is plenty of talent around, teams have been saving cap space for this free agency period. If he grows in these areas, it will also help the Trail Blazers next season.