5 roster moves the Portland Trail Blazers need to make this offseason

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 04: Jusuf Nurkic #27 and Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers embrace in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors during the preseason game at Moda Center on October 04, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 07: Josh Hart #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter of the game at Target Center on March 7, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 124-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Moves the Portland Trail Blazers need to make this offseason: 3. Guarantee Josh Hart

The Trail Blazers were able to leverage Hart in the McCollum trade and he is exactly the type of player a franchise that is rebuilding should like to have. He is an energy player who leaves everything else on the floor, even when no one else on the floor is not giving it their all.

He signed a three-year, $38 million deal in the past offseason but the New Orleans Pelicans did not guarantee the second year of it. The reason for this was so the Pelicans could trade him without his approval, which is what happened.

The Trail Blazers inserted Hart into their starting lineup as soon as he came to the franchise. In the 13 games that he played, Hart averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes per game. He was also very efficient, shooting 50.3 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from behind the three-point line.

When the Trail Blazers get Lillard back, they will be able to pair his all-in game with the all-out energy of Hart, giving them a wicked one-two punch. This is going to help the younger players develop, as both of these guys will give them a really good example to follow.

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