Lillard, Stotts Talk Blazers in Zoom Call

Photo by: Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard expects Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins to start when the team plays in Orlando, he told Portland media members on a Zoom call Wednesday. Lillard believes that Carmelo Anthony will slide over to starting small forward to fill in for Trevor Ariza as well.

.@Dame_Lillard expects Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins to start when the season resumes.

"They look great. They make me feel way more confident"

#RipCity @bosnianbeast27 @zcollins_33 pic.twitter.com/D0UOdnLUT3

— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) July 1, 2020

Head coach Terry Stotts also said that he’s liked what he’s seen from Nurkic:

Terry Stotts says Jusuf Nurkic is ready to go.

""From a physical standpoint, it's the best I've seen him"#RipCity @bosnianbeast27 pic.twitter.com/ED7Atfflpf

— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) July 1, 2020

Despite Nurkic’s physical condition, Stotts said that he hasn’t ruled out playing Nurkic and fellow center Hassan Whiteside together:

Blazers head coach Terry Stotts on his starting lineup options.

"I haven't ruled out starting Hassan and Nurk together"#RipCity pic.twitter.com/JpNqtUFOzw

— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) July 1, 2020

The team’s other lingering question sits at the small forward position, with starter Trevor Ariza opting not to join the team in Orlando. Stotts said that Gary Trent Jr. was an option, but he seemed to lean toward sliding Carmelo Anthony (who played small forward in his younger days) up to the 3:

.@trailblazers Terry Stotts on Carmelo Anthony playing the 3 position.

"We're going to be a big team if Melo is at 3. He's going to have a lot of help behind him. Melo can move his feet. A steady diet of it could be challenging, but part of that it's team defense"#RipCity pic.twitter.com/rH44xSv0AS

— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) July 1, 2020

The Trail Blazers resume their chase of a playoff spot in Orlando on July 31 against the Memphis Grizzlies.