SLAM: One thing NBA observers knew coming into this season was that Damian Lillard was a proven All-Star-type player. Even though he was snubbed this season, what were your impressions of him coming in and your impression of him now after being his teammate?
MH: Coming here, I knew he was a good player. After being with him for pretty much a year now, I’ve gained a lot more respect for him. Not that I didn’t have a good deal of respect for him before but I just didn’t really know him. Just seeing how much of a leader he is, how tough he is. He really wants to win at all costs. He’s a tough kid and he’s played through some injuries this year and by just watching games, fans probably don’t see stuff like that. But being around him and playing with him you learn a lot from him and the type of person he is.
SLAM: When you were informed that you were traded last summer, how did you react to the news and what were your impressions of Portland before arriving there?
MH: I didn’t really have an impression of Portland, honestly. I didn’t know anything about it other than I hated playing here as an opponent because the fans are really loud and very passionate about the Trail Blazers. I was excited to hear the news (of the trade). I was looking forward to the opportunity to come here and I saw an opportunity for me to hopefully play a lot. We have a nice group of young guys who all work hard. I knew CJ [McCollum] since I played against him in college. I was drafted in the same class with Dame and Meyers [Leonard], so just coming here with a great group of young guys, I was really excited and looking forward to getting started.
SLAM: How do you feel you’ve adjusted so far to being in a new system and in a new role, as you now play a lot of 4 in coach Stotts’ small-ball lineups?
MH: I think I’ve adjusted pretty well. It was kind of new at first since I never really played the 4 at this level before and guys are a lot bigger and stronger. I’m pretty much cool with playing wherever I’m needed; whatever I can do to help the team win, especially if that’s playing as the stretch-4 now. Offensively with our system, positions are interchangeable. One position I can be playing the 4 and the next possession I can be playing the 2. With our team, we have guys with similar size and skill sets and when we’re out there we can just pretty much figure things out on the fly. We can switch positions on both ends of the floor, so it’s pretty cool.
