NBA Notes: Blazers, Damian Lillard, Pelicans, Bennedict Mathurin, Jazz

Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard is apparently doing just fine. Specifically, the Trail Blazers posted a photo from one of Lillard’s offseason workouts showing that he made 1,100 of 1,168 3-pointers.

That’s 94.2 percent. Yes, we’re talking about practice. But 1,100 makes is still 1,100 makes.

Marlow Ferguson Jr. of NBA On SI pointed to the workout as another encouraging sign for Lillard ahead of his return season in Portland. Lillard also recently made 29 straight 3-pointers as part of the Blazers’ schedule-release video.

The bigger question, of course, is how Lillard looks once the games actually count.

Portland will be adding both a healthy Lillard and Ja Morant to a team that badly needed more perimeter shooting last season. Lillard shot 40.5 percent on 3-pointers in his last fully healthy season with Milwaukee.

No, an offseason shooting drill doesn’t tell us everything. But does tell us one thing: The touch appears to be just fine.

Pelicans

Bennedict Mathurin gives the Pelicans another scorer. He may also give them another rotation puzzle.

Mathurin signed a two-year, $16 million deal with New Orleans and should provide some offensive punch after averaging 16.2 points for his career.

Terry Kimble of Pelicans On SI notes that Mathurin’s ability to get downhill and draw fouls could make him useful late in games. He has also shot 83 percent from the free-throw line during his career.

The issue is fitting everybody together. Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray figure to be part of closing lineups, while Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, Jeremiah Fears, Derrick Queen and Mathurin could all be competing for the remaining spots.

Mathurin also isn’t known as a high-level defender, which could matter under new coach Jamahl Mosley.

Then there’s Jordan Poole. He was already out of the rotation for stretches last season and remains on an expiring contract. Mathurin’s arrival gives New Orleans another player capable of creating his own shot and handling some offensive possessions.

That doesn’t guarantee anything with Poole. But it probably doesn’t help him, either.

Jazz

Will Hardy has coached Lauri Markkanen for four years now. Apparently, a trip to Finland helped him understand his star a little better.

Hardy recently traveled overseas to spend time with Markkanen and told KUTV2’s Jenna Fink that strengthening their relationship will be important as Utah tries to take another step.

“Lauri’s obviously somebody who I’ve built a pretty deep relationship with over the last four years,” Hardy said. “The human piece is very key to our success moving forward.”

Hardy added that seeing Markkanen in his “natural habitat” was enlightening. Markkanen gave him a pretty good basketball show while he was there, too.

He finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in just 25 minutes Sunday as Finland beat Estonia by 29 in a World Cup qualifier, per Eurohoops.

Markkanen is the lone remaining Jazz player from Hardy’s first season in Utah. That tends to create a little history between player and coach.

In this case, Hardy seems intent on making sure it also creates a little more understanding.