JD ready to make big return

The Nets’ game of musical chairs with their power forwards just got another contestant. Jared Dudley returned to practice Wednesday and is expected to return to the court Thursday against the Trail Blazers at Barclays Center.

Dudley has missed 16 straight games after pulling his hamstring Jan. 9. What will his role be now that he’s back?

“I don’t know what the answer to that is right now,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Obviously JD’s going to need some time to get back in rhythm.

“The great thing about JD, he’s played every role in the NBA. … I feel really good about him accepting his role, whatever it is.”

Dudley started the first 20 games of the season with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, DeMarre Carroll and Treveon Graham all hurt at various times. Then, after a stint on the bench he started five straight before getting hurt.

“What I can contribute is the same thing when it comes to passing, ball movement, communication, shooting,” Dudley said. “We’re really loaded, we’ve got a lot of guys, so I have time to work my way [back].

“What I always tell everyone is what I’ll tell myself: You’ll get a chance, you’ll get an opportunity.”

Especially since his ability to space the floor even when he’s not hitting — he’s at just 32.2 percent from 3-point range — makes the offense better.

“You don’t have to worry about me. You’ve got guys like Caris [LeVert] and then Spencer [Dinwiddie],” Dudley said. “It’s easy for me to fit in.”

➤ Joe Harris’ trophy for winning the All-Star 3-Point Contest hasn’t made it north yet. It’s at UNC-Charlotte.

“My former assistant coach from Virginia is the head coach [at Charlotte], Ron Sanchez. They let me come in and practice and I was just joking with them that if I’d won I’d send them the trophy,” Harris said. “We’ll see how long it stays there. I think the Nets want it to come back here at some point.”

➤ Atkinson said LeVert practiced well and is “trending back to normal, normal minutes.”