Trail Blazers Media Day made one thing clear: Portland does not see its crowded backcourt as a headache.
First-year head coach Micah Nori framed the guard group as a collection of playmakers and ball handlers, not a logjam that needs fixing. He pointed to the way those guards think the game, calling them “decision-makers” who bring high basketball IQ and an unselfish desire to win.
Ja Morant echoed that view when he was asked how he would fit into the mix and whether the backcourt depth was a problem.
“Not at all,” Morant said.” Like I said earlier, I feel like everybody's very unselfish.
And I feel like we're the only team right now who are probably getting questioned about this. But there's a lot of other teams wishing they had this many ball-handlers, so.”
That mindset matters because Portland spent last season getting dragged by the exact opposite issue. The Blazers led the league in turnovers per game by a wide margin and took plenty of heat for not having enough ball-handling or playmaking.
General manager Joe Cronin may have swung hard in the other direction, but that does not automatically make this a mistake. The league has been moving toward guard-heavy offenses for a while now, and teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder show how dangerous that can be. Their attack runs through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the roster still leans into having multiple guards who can handle the ball and create.
Portland appears to be chasing something similar, with Deni Avdija continuing to grow into a point-forward role while finally getting more help around him. That lack of support showed up in the first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs, when Avdija had to carry a heavy load while working through a lingering back injury and dealing with a disciplined San Antonio defense.
The bigger question now is who, if anyone, becomes Avdija’s true co-star. Damian Lillard is still trying to get back to form after a torn Achilles at 36. Morant’s fit is its own puzzle, especially since he does not have the two-way tools that would make off-ball work come naturally.
There are still more unknowns with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Henderson has not been extended yet, and Sharpe is expected to miss roughly six months because of another injury.
Even with those concerns, Portland’s decision to bring in Morant this offseason for cheap looks more understandable by the day. It gave the Blazers another chance to solve the long-term guard question.
With Sharpe sidelined and Jrue Holiday bringing positional versatility, Media Day suggested this group should be viewed less as a problem and more as an upgrade from what Portland had a year ago. The roster has flaws, sure, but the backcourt has enough unselfishness, experience, and basketball IQ to sort itself out and potentially become a real offensive strength.
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Shaedon Sharpes Absence Could Change His Blazers Role For Good
Shaedon Sharpes setback arrives at an awkward moment for a Portland backcourt still sorting out its identity. The Trail Blazers were already headed into a season where guard roles and ballhandling responsibilities were going to matter, and the injury now forces the team to rework that mix without one of its most explosive perimeter options available.
Micah Nori touched on the ripple effect at Media Day, where the conversation centered on how Portland wants to organize its offense and who will carry more of the decision-making load. Sharpes absence opens the door for a different style of guard rotation, and it may also reshape the way the Blazers think about his place once he returns. [Read more 🡒]
Damian Lillards Return Feels Different For The Blazers This Time
Damian Lillards long road back to Portland has reached the point where basketball is finally the focus again. After roughly 16 months of rehab from a torn left Achilles tendon, he showed up for the Blazers media day sounding like a player who has spent enough time away to appreciate the simplest parts of the job, talking about a fresh perspective and a renewed emphasis on enjoying the process.
For Portland, the return comes with obvious intrigue because Lillard is not approaching this like a rushed comeback. He said he feels healthy, and the tone around his return has shifted away from the usual strain that comes with a star trying to get all the way back. Instead, the next phase is about getting into training camp and seeing how his presence fits with a team that has been waiting a long time to have him back on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Camp Opens With One Huge Dame And Ja Question
Training camp opens with a different feel around Portland, where Micah Nori is stepping in as the new coach and the roster now has both familiar urgency and fresh uncertainty. Damian Lillard is back in the mix after a lost stretch, the front office has changed around him, and the Blazers are trying to sort out what comes next after last seasons playoff trip.
The biggest questions are concentrated in the backcourt, where the team has more proven guard talent than obvious answers. Ja Morants arrival gives Portland another high-end option to fit alongside a veteran core, but it also raises the stakes for how the rotation will be shaped and who settles into the most important minutes as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]