The Trail Blazers made a splash this off‑season by acquiring two‑time All‑Star Ja Morant, a deal that cost no cornerstone players or draft assets, notes Jeremy Brener for Sports Illustrated.
Morant’s durability raises eyebrows; he logged just 79 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons, plagued by injuries and off‑court issues.
His talent shines, yet the grind of an NBA calendar tests both mindset and body – for my money, the gamble could redefine Portland’s identity, according to an anonymous NBA scout.
“You’ve got a bad defender who’s a small guard who can’t shoot, who physically is unfit, paired next to a small guard who’s a bad defender and who can shoot [in Damian Lillard],” the scout warned. “Probably going to be tough.”
Portland now juggles three point guards—Morant, Lillard and Scoot Henderson—none famed for defense, while Micah Nori must also weave Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe into the mix once the Canadian guard returns from injury.
More details from Portland:
- The Blazers signed Micah Potter after his breakout with the Pacers, where he posted 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes and shot .515/.423/.842 on 3.6 threes per game. The 6‑9 forward is expected to stretch the floor, and although his contract isn’t guaranteed until January, he should secure a reserve spot on the 15‑man roster.
- Portland also added third‑year center Branden Carlson, a seven‑footer who spent two seasons with the Thunder. While he won’t start over Robert Williams, his shooting, rim‑running and shot‑blocking give him a chance to compete for backup power‑forward minutes if Williams misses time.
- The push for $600 million Moda Center upgrades sparked protests from Sunrise PDX, which argues the money belongs in schools amid 20 closures. With the NBA urging renovation, will the city finally balance arena ambitions with community needs?