Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups confirmed that Josh Hart will be the team's starting small forward. Hart has started at the three for Portland throughout the preseason.

The Blazers acquired Hart from the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of last season's NBA trade deadline. Hart is the lone players remaining in Portland from a seven-player deal that sent C.J. McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. to New Orleans.

In 13 games (all starts) with the Trail Blazers, Hart averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals. Hart is expected to join Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic in Portland's starting lineup this season.