Portland didn’t blink when Ja Morant became available.
That was the message from Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin on Monday at Blazers media day, where he explained why the team moved quickly to bring in the former No. 2 overall pick from Memphis in June. Portland sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies in the deal.
“Straight belief in Ja more than anything. ... The decision was based on our view of Ja as still a very high-level player,” Cronin told reporters.
He doubled down on that idea, stressing that the Blazers are betting on Morant’s talent and the runway still ahead of him.
“We're very confident that Ja has a lot of good years ahead of him. For us, I'm sure there will be questions around fit, position, and all those different things. But we're very focused - and will continue to be - on talent and adding to our talent base as much as we can.”
Morant’s arrival gives Portland another explosive name, but it also adds another body to an already crowded backcourt. Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson are already in place, and fifth-year guard Shaedon Sharpe will be part of the mix once he returns from a torn meniscus.
The Blazers are making the move with eyes on Morant’s upside, even after a season limited to 20 appearances because of a UCL sprain in his left elbow. In 2025-26, he still put up 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds and one steal, though his outside shot dipped to a career-worst 23.5% from three. He also finished at just 61% at the rim, which ranked in the 42nd percentile among point guards, according to Cleaning the Glass.
For Morant, the role matters less than the result.
“I think winning is the most important thing for me,” Morant said, per Sportscenter. “Whatever role I have to play to get that done, I don't think nobody will be mad after a win. ... If I'm starting or if I'm not, it's the same thing.”
In Other News...
Blazers Overhaul Looks Exciting But One Roster Problem Still Lingers
The Blazers latest offseason swing has given the roster a far different look, and the appeal is obvious. Portland landed Ja Morant in a trade without having to part with any key pieces, then added frontcourt help in Micah Potter and Branden Carlson to give the bench a little more size and insurance. On paper, it is the kind of aggressive retool that can energize a team trying to climb back into relevance, especially with Damian Lillard still at the center of everything.
Still, the roster picture is not fully clean. Morant brings the sort of talent that changes expectations, but there are lingering questions about his health and how he fits defensively next to Lillard, and the Blazers cannot ignore either issue if they want the move to work. Off the floor, the franchise also remains under scrutiny as protests continue over taxpayer money going toward Moda Center renovations, with critics arguing those dollars should be redirected to local schools instead. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Camp Is About To Settle Portlands Biggest Roster Battles
The Trail Blazers have put together their official training camp roster for the 2026-27 season, giving the first clear look at the group that will spend the next few days trying to sort out the back end of the roster. Portland opens camp Sept. 29 and will keep the competition going through Oct. 2, with Fan Fest set for Oct. 4 at the Moda Center.
For a team still trying to answer some of its biggest personnel questions, this is the stretch where small decisions can carry real weight. The Blazers get just a short runway before the first preseason games arrive on Oct. 7 and Oct. 12, so every practice rep matters as the club starts separating the players who fit from the ones who may not be long for the final group. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Still Havent Solved Scoot Hendersons Long Term Role
Scoot Hendersons future with the Blazers is still being shaped in real time, even after a late-season surge that gave Portland some reason to believe the guard is settling in. General manager Joe Cronin addressed Hendersons role and the possibility of a contract extension during Media Day, and the bigger message was that the organization sees the young guard as a key part of what comes next.
What remains unsettled is how that importance will actually look on the floor. Portland still has not made a decision on Hendersons extension, and his usage could shift depending on roster movement and the health of teammates around him. After the improvement he showed down the stretch and into the playoffs, the Blazers are clearly invested in his growth, but the exact long-term fit is still a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]