The Portland Trail Blazers just brought in Ja Morant this offseason, and the early chatter has pointed toward him sharing the backcourt with Damian Lillard. For now, that’s the direction Portland seems willing to explore. But the bigger question is whether the Blazers should already be thinking about a different kind of move - one that sends Morant out again before February’s trade deadline.
That idea starts with the reality of Portland’s guard situation. Practice has opened, October is right around the corner, and the backcourt logjam still doesn’t have a clean answer.
Morant was never really the obvious trade piece. Jrue Holiday was the more natural candidate, and Scoot Henderson was also mentioned to a lesser degree.
Even so, the Blazers have made it clear they want to keep the group together for now.
That message came through loud and clear at Media Day, where the recurring theme was that this level of guard depth is a good problem to have. And maybe it is.
Portland has plenty of ball-handlers and decision-makers now, which should help with the turnover issues that bothered them last season. If Morant’s career revival happens in Portland, it would likely come from the fresh start, plus the veteran presence of Lillard and Holiday.
But the fit still raises real questions. Morant doesn’t match the size, versatility, or defense that general manager Joe Cronin has emphasized during this rebuild. The Blazers have been building around players like Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, and Holiday, and Morant sits a little outside that mold.
The offensive overlap is part of the problem too. Morant wants the ball and attacks downhill, while Avdija led the league in drives per game last year. That doesn’t mean Morant is a selfish player - Nori specifically stressed the unselfish nature of this group as a way to make the guard situation work - but it does mean the fit isn’t seamless.
And then there’s the bigger picture, which seems to point squarely toward Avdija. Last season made it obvious this is his team. Morant has a career 31.1 three-point shooting mark, and while he may be willing to take on more of an off-ball role, that’s probably not where he’s best equipped to thrive.
If Portland can make the on-court arrangement work, that could also raise Morant’s trade value. The Blazers gave up a productive Kiris Murray and a negative asset in Jerami Grant to get him, so flipping Morant later for future assets would be a path worth considering if he rebounds in Portland. That becomes even more interesting with the roster construction around Avdija in mind.
Avdija’s future is part of the conversation too. His renegotiation and extension came up at Media Day, and while Portland still has time to sort it out, the front office will need to be proactive because cap space is part of the equation. Morant’s contract - $42.2 million this season and $44.9 million in 2027-28 - would be the more straightforward way to create that room.
At Media Day, the sense was that Cronin is waiting to see how all of this unfolds before making any major decisions. That doesn’t mean the Blazers should shut the door on a Morant deal. If his value climbs between now and February, Portland would have another lever to pull, and more flexibility to shape the roster around what matters most.
With so many guards in the mix, Cronin suddenly has options. And with Avdija’s future becoming the priority, moving Morant has to stay on the table if the Blazers can get meaningful value back.
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Branden Carlson Is Already Forcing His Way Into The Blazers Conversation
The Trail Blazers opened their first practice of the season with a few names already standing out, and Branden Carlson was among the most noticeable. The center brought strong offensive rebounding and plenty of energy to the floor, the kind of early workload that can help a player get noticed fast in camp, especially when the team is still sorting through what its rotation in the middle might look like.
Carlsons push comes at an interesting time for Portland, which is taking a hard look at its frontcourt depth while also tracking other camp themes like Toumani Camaras perimeter defense and Scoot Hendersons pace. The Blazers have options in the middle, and that makes every practice rep matter as they try to narrow down who fits where and how much room there really is for another big to break into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Scoot Henderson Just Entered A Crucial Season For The Blazers
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This is shaping up to be an important camp for Henderson, who is expected to have a significant role in setting the tone early while also likely seeing fewer minutes once the season starts. With restricted free agency looming in 2027, his place in Portlands plans carries a little extra weight now, and the Blazers will be watching closely to see how he handles the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Suddenly Have A Ja Morant Question They Cant Ignore
At Portland Trail Blazers media day, the backcourt picture was already looking crowded before the season even tips off. Micah Nori addressed a guard rotation that features Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, and said the staff can get creative with how it fits the pieces together, including using Holiday more at forward to help manage minutes and keep the lineup flexible.
Morant added another layer to the conversation by making it clear his priority is winning, regardless of whether he starts or not. Nori acknowledged the possibility of Morant coming off the bench, which is the kind of rotation wrinkle that can shape a season long before the games start to matter. The Blazers may spend plenty of the early months experimenting with roles, and this one feels destined to be one of the bigger decisions they keep revisiting. [Read more 🡒]