The Portland Trail Blazers look like they’ve already found a starting five, and if the latest hint holds, it could be a strong fit for Ja Morant.
Micah Nori still has to sort through a roster with enough depth to create real competition, but only five players can open a game. According to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report, Nori “strongly hinted” in a post on Bluesky that Portland’s first unit will be the same group that started the preseason game against the Golden State Warriors: Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan.
That combination gives Portland a look built to cover for Morant in the areas where he can be vulnerable.
Morant remains one of the most dangerous guards in the league when he’s healthy and available. His injuries and suspensions have interrupted the flow of his past few seasons, but the Blazers are clearly trying to put him in position to get back to being that high-level force.
He can handle the ball, create for others, and attack the rim with elite burst. The athleticism is obvious every time he steps on the floor.
The challenge is just as clear. Morant is not a strong three-point shooter, and he’s not a great defender either. That makes the pieces around him especially important.
Lillard solves one of those problems immediately. He has to reestablish himself after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury, but his reputation as one of the greatest three-point shooters ever is already established. Portland doesn’t need him to invent a new role; it needs his shot-making.
Camara brings the other end of the equation. He’s one of the league’s top defense-first forwards and may be one of the best defenders overall. Putting him next to Morant gives Portland a much better chance of covering for any soft spots in the backcourt.
Clingan adds another layer of protection. The young big man is still developing, but he’s steadily becoming one of the NBA’s better rim protectors. If Morant gets caught out of position or beaten off the dribble, Clingan gives the Blazers a chance to clean it up at the rim.
And then there’s Avdija, the player who keeps everything moving. He’s the best player on the roster, and slotting that level of talent next to Morant only makes the group more dangerous.
On paper, Portland seems to be doing a solid job of building around Morant’s strengths while insulating some of his weaker spots.
In Other News...
Blazers Fans Just Got Another Reason To Worry About Portlands Future
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On the floor, the Blazers have been busy reshaping the roster, including the trade for Ja Morant, as they turn toward their opener against the Phoenix Suns. But even with basketball back on the calendar, the off-court uncertainty lingers, and Portland fans now have one more ownership-related storyline to watch as the new season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Enter Season With Two Franchise Questions Still Hanging
The Trail Blazers head into their season opener against the Phoenix Suns with plenty of attention still fixed on what their roster looks like at the top. After acquiring Ja Morant, Portland suddenly has a crowded and complicated point guard picture, with Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday all part of the equation as the team tries to sort out roles and fit before the games start to matter.
Off the floor, the organization is also working through a longer-term issue that matters just as much to the franchises future in Portland. The team is negotiating a new arena deal with the city for the Moda Center, and with the current lease set to expire in 2030, the building remains a central piece of the Blazers next chapter even as the focus shifts to opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Deni Avdija Just Set The Tone For Portland's Biggest Test
With the season opener against the Suns looming, Portland has spent the preseason leaning into the kind of roster balance it hopes can carry it through tougher matchups. The Trail Blazers have multiple versatile ball handlers and frontcourt pieces to mix and match, and Deni Avdija has been at the center of that conversation after leading the team in scoring last season while also stressing chemistry and a sharper defensive edge.
Phoenix is the first real chance to see whether that approach translates once the games count. Portland knows it will have to make up for some backcourt size issues by crashing the boards together and using flexible lineups to cover for one another, which makes the early test as much about connected play as talent. Avdijas tone has suggested the Blazers believe those habits can travel, but the opener will show how ready they really are. [Read more 🡒]