The Portland Trail Blazers have a pretty big backcourt problem before the new season even begins. They now have Ja Morant and Damian Lillard on the same roster, but their head coach, Micah Nori, does not think starting both of them makes much sense.
Nori’s take quickly caught the attention of NBA fans, especially because Portland created this logjam itself by bringing Morant to the roster despite reacquiring Lillard.
NBA Fans Back Portland Trailblazers Coach on Ja Morant-Damian Lillard Pairing
According to The Athletic’s Jason Quick, Blazers coach Nori said starting Morant and Lillard together is not the best option.
“Nori said that starting Morant and Lillard doesn’t make sense. Both are undersized, and both have never excelled on the defensive end,” Quick reported.
“The more analytically sound option would be to start Holiday, a bigger guard who is an exceptional defender, and have either Morant or Lillard come off the bench,” Quick noted.
“But in a league with huge egos, asking an All-Star to come off the bench is a delicate and difficult task for any coach, let alone Nori, a first-year coach operating on a one-year contract.”
Nonetheless, Nori also told The Athletic that he intended to experiment with the Morant-Lillard pairing during the preseason. “It’s not set in stone, but probably, because I’m leaning toward wanting to see what it looks like,” Nori said. “And … I don’t want to start a fire before I need to.”
The real issue here is that Portland has a lot of guards and only so many starting spots. The franchise acquired Morant from Memphis on June 29, just six days after hiring Nori as their new head coach.
Morant had spent all seven seasons of his career with the Grizzlies before the trade. Portland already had Lillard, who will be returning to the team after recovering from Achilles surgery. Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson also need minutes.
Lillard had actually suggested earlier this week that the plan was for him, Morant, and Avdija to start. Now Nori’s comments have opened up a very different possibility.
One fan backed the coach completely, writing, “He’s 100% correct and that’s why trading for Ja didn’t make sense.”
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn also argued that Morant coming off the bench could make sense, writing, “The basketball answer is bring Ja off the bench. Deni is the better driver. Dame’s shooting is additive for him and gives him the second ball-handler he didn’t have last year to share the load.”
One Blazers fan pointed toward the front office, adding, “He’s not lying & this is exactly why Cronin’s incompetence to make a move after trading for Ja was such a big deal this summer. Getting Ja regardless of the price didn’t make sense for this roster at all and is now forcing an uncomfortable hand for a rookie head coach.”
However, some Trail Blazers fans still expect Portland to start both stars.
“Fans don’t wanna accept it but he’s not lying. I still think he starts them both, but wouldn’t be shocked if it’s a quick first sub at the start of games lol,”a fan wrote.
Another fan focused on the other young guard, Henderson, caught in the situation, commenting, “I mean then what do you do with Scoot? Main point is that trade was stupid.”
One supporter backed Nori’s approach while making their preference clear, writing, “THANK YOUU. Even though I think Ja should come off the bench, I wouldnt be mad if Dame came off the bench instead AS LONG AS THEY DONT START TOGETHER. Nori alr cooking.”
Oregon Ducks reporter Aaron J. Fentress pointed out just how familiar this problem feels in Portland.
“The fact that the Blazers are right back here again 4 years after trading CJ and 3 years after trading Lillard is hilarious. Different owner. Different GM. Different HC. Same exact backcourt issue,” Fentress highlighted.
It is an odd situation for a franchise that once broke up the Lillard-CJ McCollum backcourt, partly to move in a different direction.
Portland first traded McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans in Feb. 2022. Then they shipped Lillard to Milwaukee in Sept. 2023 after his trade request, only to bring him back in 2025 and add another star guard, Morant.
There is at least some flexibility to the situation. Morant could help cover for Lillard if the veteran guard is limited early in the season while continuing his recovery from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered last year.
Portland made the playoffs last season for the first time in five years, losing 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Now, before the Blazers can worry about another playoff run, Nori has to figure out who actually fits together in the starting lineup.
Nori and Co. open their preseason against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 7.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.