Josh Hart can be a franchise centerpiece for the Trail Blazers

When the Portland Trail Blazers traded CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline, a lot of people were upset. Most believed that the Blazers didn’t get enough in return.

Portland received Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (who they traded), Tomas Satoranksy, Didi Louzada, and picks. This means they didn’t get anyone near McCollum’s value in return.

Or at least, that’s what most people think. In reality, one player in that trade might be worth it for the Blazers, despite first impressions, and that player is Hart.

Josh Hart can be a franchise centerpiece for the Trail Blazers

Just the other night, Hart scored 44 points in a win over the Washington Wizards. It marked his career-high and showed just how valuable he can be for the Blazers.

And while it’s definitely foolish to believe that Hart can put up 44-point games on a weekly basis, his performance did show just how good Hart could be, especially when paired alongside Damian Lillard.

Now, there’s no guarantee that Portland chooses to keep Hart past this season. Some think he could end up being packaged in a deal to get a second star due to his salary.

However, in addition to his occasional scoring outbursts, the best, most important thing that Hart brings to the table is (ironically enough) heart.

Hart plays with a relentless motor and is always giving it is all on the court. And while this may not seem too important in the grand scheme of things, every top-tier team around the league needs a player like this.

The Golden State Warriors had Draymond Green, the Milwaukee Bucks had Bobby Portis (and Giannis Antetokounmpo himself), and the Los Angeles Lakers had Alex Caruso.

This player isn’t always the best player on the team, but he’s the guy that everyone can count on to bring a sense of veteran leadership and calmness.

Plus, Hart has never actually gotten the opportunity to be a focal point on a team. He was a role player in Los Angeles and a role player in New Orleans.

But if he can put together performances like this one, there’s no reason he can’t be a top complimentary piece next to Lillard. Maybe he takes his game to another level.

With how hard he plays, his great defense, and his underrated passing ability, Hart is shaping up to be a perfect player to pair alongside Lillard for the future. The Pelicans struck gold with Hart.