Ja Morant may not look like a perfect puzzle piece for Portland, but he’s already showing why the Blazers think this can work.
The fit still comes with obvious questions. There are concerns about floor spacing and positional size, and those aren’t going away because it’s preseason.
Even so, Portland didn’t have to part with much to land him, which changes the whole equation. Morant doesn’t need to be a star-level engine here for the Blazers to get real value back.
What stands out early is how willing he’s been to play within himself. Morant has already come across as one of the most unselfish players on the roster, and he’s even said his new teammates have pushed him to be more aggressive because he was getting too passive and worrying too much about fitting in.
That tension is going to define a lot of this season for Portland. The Blazers want the edge and swagger that come with Morant’s game, but they need it filtered through a smaller role than the one he had in Memphis.
So far, he seems open to that. Morant has already talked about how it doesn’t matter whether he starts or comes off the bench, as long as the team is winning. That mindset has shown up on the floor too, especially in preseason, where his effort on defense has been one of the biggest early positives.
Maybe that’s tied to not having to carry as much of the offensive load. Maybe it has something to do with the chip on his shoulder after the Grizzlies essentially made it clear this was no longer his team. Either way, the version of Morant Portland has seen so far is a promising one.
He’s still rusty, still in need of reps, and still not an ideal backcourt fit on paper. But when you stop viewing him only as the former two-time All-Star and start looking at him as the player Portland acquired for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, the excitement makes a lot more sense.
The most encouraging part is simple: Morant appears willing to buy in as a role player, with unselfish passing and active defense. That kind of approach can go a long way toward changing the way he’s viewed around the league. It also makes this trade look better for Portland by the day.
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Scoot Henderson Is Making Portland's Extension Decision Much Tougher
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