The Trail Blazers took a major swing this summer when they traded for Ja Morant. While they were able to add him without giving up any crucial players, the move is not without risks, Jeremy Brener writes for Sports Illustrated.
The first and most obvious concern is Morant’s health and general ability to stay on the floor. The high-flying guard has played just 79 out of a possible 246 games over the last three seasons due to a combination of injuries and off-court incidents.
Morant’s talent is undeniable, but the mindset and physical ability to withstand the grind of an NBA season are real causes for concern, according to an anonymous NBA scout Brener interviewed.
“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 said. “Probably going to be tough.”
The Blazers have three point guards who need minutes next season in Morant, Lillard, and Scoot Henderson, none of whom are known as stout defenders. Head coach Micah Nori will have to figure out how to manage that rotation while also working in Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe once the young Canadian guard returns from injury in the second half of the season.
We have more from Portland:
The Blazers added Micah Potter this season after Potter posted a career-best year with the Pacers, where he averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per night while posting .515/.423/.842 shooting splits on 3.6 three-point attempts per game. While the 6’9″ big man can play either frontcourt spot, the Blazers envision him serving as a skilled, spacing power forward this season, Joe Freeman writes for The Oregonian. Because Potter was picked up off of waivers this summer, his deal remains unguaranteed until January, but Freeman sees him securing a backup big man role, given the team’s desire to add shooting from various spots on the floor.
Portland also added third-year center Branden Carlson this summer after the seven-footer played the last two seasons with the Thunder. While he’s not expected to command a major role this season, especially considering the three-year extension the team agreed to with Robert Williams III, his combination of shooting potential, rim-running ability, and shot-blocking was intriguing to the Blazers, according to Freeman. Should Williams miss time, he will likely get a chance to show what he can do, and he will also compete for minutes at the backup power forward spot.
The Blazers’ efforts to secure taxpayer funding for the Moda Center’s upgrades were greeted with protests by climate action group Sunrise PDX, who claimed that the money should instead be going to schools, teachers, and aiding with an ongoing city worker negotiation, Noelle Crombie writes for The Oregonian. The remodel, which the NBA has stressed the need for, is expected to cost around $600MM. “We are facing 20 school closures in Portland Public Schools while the city, the state, the county have just invested $365 million in Moda Center renovations to a billionaire while our schools are struggling,” said Alisha Chavez, president of the Portland Association of Teachers.