The Portland Trail Blazers are set to open the season with a starting five that looks built for speed, skill and a whole lot of problem-solving. Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan are the group expected to roll into training camp next month, and each one comes with a very specific job description.
For Lillard, the biggest need is simple: shooting. He won the three-point contest last season without appearing in a single game for Portland, while working back from the torn Achilles he suffered in the 2025 playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Blazers finished 26th in three-point percentage last season, and Lillard’s presence should help change that fast. His spacing gives Morant and Avdija room to attack the lane, which could become a central piece of Portland’s offense.
And beyond the jumper, his leadership matters too as he returns to the franchise that made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.
Morant brings a different kind of pressure. He averaged 15.7 drives per game in 20 appearances with the Grizzlies last season, and his game is all about forcing the issue in the paint.
That usually ends with either a hard finish at the rim or a trip to the free-throw line, both of which give Portland easy points. He can also create for teammates, and pairing another point guard with Lillard should give the offense a major boost.
That offensive upside comes with a defensive catch, though, and that’s where Camara becomes so important. With Lillard and Morant in the backcourt, the Blazers are going to have issues defensively, especially against bigger or more physical guards.
Camara is one of the league’s best defenders, and he’ll be asked to take on the opposing team’s top scorer every night. He played all 82 games last season, and that durability matters for a team that needs someone steady enough to help cover for those smaller backcourt matchups.
Putting him on the perimeter to meet the lead guard at halfcourt could be part of the answer Micah Nori leans on.
Avdija’s role is the trickiest to define, but maybe the most important. He led the league with 19.4 drives last season and was Portland’s primary creator, a run that helped him become an All-Star and one of the league’s most improved players.
With Lillard and Morant both on the floor, his usage will shift, but the Blazers still need his ball-handling and all-around playmaking. He may have to look more like the secondary option he was with the Washington Wizards, but Portland still needs him involved, because his ability to do a little bit of everything gives the lineup balance.
And then there’s Clingan, the one true size piece in a group that doesn’t have much of it elsewhere. The Blazers need his 7-foot frame to anchor the paint, even if opposing teams try to pull him away from the rim to open driving lanes.
Keeping him near the basket has to be a priority. He averaged 1.7 blocks per game last season, and Portland will need that number to creep closer to 2 per game if he’s going to keep delivering the value they need from him.
In Other News...
Blazers Just Watched Another Needed Young Wing Slip Away
The wing market keeps moving, and for Portland that means another young option has come off the board. Peyton Watson has agreed to a four-year, $88 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade that also involved the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, ending his restricted free agency and sending one of the more intriguing two-way wings to the East.
The Blazers had reason to monitor Watson closely because multiple teams had shown interest before the deal was finalized, and his profile fit the kind of athletic, switchable wing that so many contenders chase. Cleveland also added sharpshooting wing Max Strus in the larger arrangement, leaving Portland to keep searching for the type of perimeter help that can grow with its young core. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Offseason Leaves One Big Reason For Fans To Hesitate
The Trail Blazers have spent the offseason making major changes, starting with the hire of Micah Nori as their new head coach and the addition of Ja Morant through a trade that instantly altered the outlook of the roster. There is real intrigue in the way Portland has reshaped itself, especially with new owner Tom Dundon bringing a more conservative financial approach and the front office trying to balance basketball ambition with long-term stability.
Still, the uncertainty around the direction of the franchise has not disappeared. Portland moved on from Tiago Splitter after his success last season, and the decision left open questions about how much continuity the Blazers are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of a new identity. At the same time, the team remains in negotiations over a new arena deal, with Dundon reluctant to pay for renovations, so even after the roster churn there is a larger issue hovering over the rebuild. [Read more 🡒]
Ja Morant Debate Just Put Blazers Fans On Notice
Patrick Beverley stirred up a familiar basketball argument on The Pat Bev Show, siding with Ja Morant over John Stockton and pointing to Morants explosiveness and one-on-one talent. The discussion got even broader when former NBA guards Raymond Felton and Charlie Villanueva joined in, with Villanueva taking the traditionalist route and backing Stocktons old-school point guard resume. It is the kind of debate that never really dies in NBA circles, especially when the players involved represent such different eras and styles.
For Blazers fans, the conversation carries extra weight now that Morant is in Portland, giving the franchise a headline-grabbing talent whose reputation already invites big comparisons. The story also serves as a reminder that every move involving a star guard comes with baggage beyond the box score, because Morants presence will be judged against a Hall of Fame standard from the moment he puts on a Blazers jersey. Whether that standard is fair or not, it is the conversation Portland just inherited. [Read more 🡒]