Portland’s trade for Ja Morant might end up making the most sense if the Trail Blazers treat it like a bridge, not a destination.
That’s the read coming out of Media Day, where general manager Joe Cronin framed the move as a buy-low swing on Morant’s talent. Portland didn’t give up draft capital, so the risk was limited.
The hope is obvious: if Morant gets back to his All-Star level, the Blazers can say they won the deal. The problem is that even in that best-case version, the fit in Portland still looks awkward.
Around the league, that awkwardness has already drawn attention. NBA insider Jake Fischer said on a recent Bleacher Report livestream that teams are watching the backcourt situation closely, and he raised the possibility that Portland could eventually move Morant again if his value climbs.
"There is a play where Portland just kind of rehabs Ja Morant's trade value and new situation, tries to offload him," Fischer said." I'm not saying that's definitely what the plan is, but you could see that happening based on all the bodies in this backcourt and the kind of weird, clunky fit of all these pieces.
Again, the fact that Deni Avdija has shown his best play comes with the ball in his hands as well. So it's an interesting, clunky fit of pieces I think everyone around the league is going to be very, very curious to see how it all comes together."
That is the heart of the issue. Portland has a crowded backcourt, and Morant’s game does not naturally solve the spacing or usage concerns that come with it. Deni Avdija is another piece who wants the ball, which only adds to the congestion.
Still, it’s too early to slap a final grade on Cronin’s move. Portland has made bold trades work before, including deals for Avdija and Jrue Holiday that were initially met with skepticism. Holiday, in particular, was once part of talk about Portland potentially flipping him again after he boosted his value during a strong first season with the Blazers.
Holiday’s case is cleaner than Morant’s. His versatility and championship experience make him easier to fit into different lineups. Morant is a different story.
Even so, there were some encouraging signs in Portland’s first preseason game against a depleted Golden State Warriors team. Morant appeared willing to accept a reduced role, and his playmaking showed up immediately when he got the ball. He also looked better defensively than the outside narrative suggested.
That matters, because Portland’s hope is not just that Morant plays well, but that he changes the way the league sees him. If he can settle in, the Blazers could have a very different conversation by February’s deadline than they did when they made the trade. In that scenario, Portland could turn him into future assets and move off its most expensive player.
For now, though, the fit remains the same stubborn problem. Morant’s lack of floor spacing, positional size, and ball-dominant style still make him a poor match for this roster, even if the talent is undeniable. If the Blazers can boost his value anyway, the deadline could become the cleanest exit.
In Other News...
Blazers New Backcourt Is Already Raising One Huge Question
The preseason opener against Golden State offered a glimpse of what Portlands revamped guard group could look like on offense, with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant both finding the scoreboard and looking comfortable in the same gym. For a team that has added serious shot creation, that part is easy to imagine. The harder part is sorting out how all the pieces fit when the Trail Blazers already have Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in the mix.
Portlands backcourt depth gives the roster more punch, but it also leaves coach Micah Nori with a lineup puzzle that has to be solved early. Morant and Lillard bring the kind of firepower that can change a game in a hurry, while Holiday offers a more defensive-minded alternative if the team decides it needs more balance. The question now is not whether the guards can score together, but whether the Blazers can find the right combination to keep opponents from exploiting them on the other end. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Loss Put A New Spotlight On Their Bench Depth
Golden States five-point loss to Portland turned into a reminder that even a strong night from the supporting cast does not always guarantee a result. The Warriors got major help from role players, with Dalen Terry coming close to a triple-double and Miles Kelly pouring in 24 points with six 3-pointers, while Brandon Williams, Will Richard, Charles Bassey, Graham Ike and Alex Toohey all chipped in along the way.
For Portland, the win offered another look at how quickly a game can tilt when the Blazers bring enough energy and balance to withstand that kind of production. It was the sort of matchup that puts a premium on depth, and for Golden State it left another question hanging over the group: whether those bench contributions are enough to hold up once the games get tighter and the rotation decisions get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Bring Back A Familiar Name As Roster Battle Takes Shape
The Clippers kept their preseason roster at 21 players by bringing back a familiar wing, signing Jahmyl Telfort to an Exhibit 10 contract as roster battles continue to take shape around the league. Telfort had already spent time with Los Angeles on a two-way deal before being cut in December, and he is expected to head back to the San Diego Clippers in the G League as part of the next stage of that path.
Elsewhere in the same Exhibit 10 shuffle, Portland moved on from guard Jaylen Martin and Sacramento waived Trhae Mitchell after signing him, a reminder of how these camp deals often double as a pipeline to the G League. For the Trail Blazers, Martin's latest move fits the familiar late-summer churn, with the organization again sorting out its deeper back-end options while keeping an eye on development opportunities tied to the Rip City Remix. [Read more 🡒]