The Portland Trail Blazers made a big splash in the Summer of 2026 when they traded for Memphis Grizzlies super-guard Ja Morant. Though recently dogged by controversy and hobbled by injuries, Morant was once one of the marquee players in the whole NBA. He might resurrect his career in Portland this season. But before he attempts that, we have this question about him (and his acquisition) in the Blazer’s Edge Mailbag.
Dave,
My question is about trading for Ja Morant. Now what? I don’t mind losing [Jerami]
Grant for him but most of the summer we’ve waited to see what other moves were coming as it turns out to be none. How can they justify pinning the entire season on a no-defense player with a troubled history? If this is the most important thing they did this year is it even close to enough? Do you really trust him as the most important hope for the season?
Sign Me Still Waiting
I understand the spirit of the question. Tomorrow, in fact, we’ll post an article on what people might expect from Morant in the season to come. But for now, I’m going to quibble with the premise on which the inquiry rests.
You’re correct that bringing Morant on board is the biggest change the Blazers made this summer. That doesn’t mean he’s the most important factor for the season. I can name offhand two factors I think are more critical to Portland’s success this year and in the long run than Morant, Damian Lillard, or any of their backcourt mates.
The first is Deni Avdija’s health. Midway through the season Deni suffered a back injury. He was still a very good player after, but there was a marked difference between his style and approach before and after that point. Some of it may have been late-season fatigue, but you have to think the back played into it at least a little.
Let’s get real. Avdija is the only thing standing between the Blazers and a complete rebuild in two years. Consider:
- Multiple contracts run out two years from now, including those of Morant, Lillard, and Jrue Holiday. Avdija’s own contract expires then too. The pattern is probably intentional, clearing potential space to re-sign him. But it also sets a hard pivot point for the franchise.
- The players with the potential to continue onward—Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan—are good, but haven’t shown anything that would indicate that they could carry the team themselves.
- Portland’s next big stars are more likely to come from future draft picks that begin in 2028 than from players on the current roster.
If Avdija isn’t healthy, can’t play at a team-leading, NBA All-Star level, or just plain leaves, Portland will enter another near-complete roster overhaul in 2028. There would be no reason to continue onward with the current experiment. That makes Deni, his role, and his durability the single most important issue facing this team over the next couple seasons. Nothing else is close. Even if Morant returns to peak form, without Avdija it’s just not enough.
The second issue is Toumani Camara’s three-point shooting. It’s a team-wide concern, really, but Camara plays the most minutes, provides more assistance on the defensive end than anybody else, and is closer to proving himself essential to the long-term backbone of this team than anyone save Deni himself. His three-point shooting really matters.
Last year Camara stepped up, shooting 7.2 attempts per game beyond the arc, up from 4.6 the season before. His success rate hovers around 37%. He needs to keep that up at least. If he could improve that percentage closer to 40%, he’d become one of the more valuable players across the NBA, not just with the Blazers. That stat is a potential growth area Portland can’t afford to ignore.
Morant is important too, of course! But his scoring can be duplicated by an amalgam of teammates and his contract expires in 2028 like everybody else’s. He’s a big factor, but not the same kind that Avdija and Camara are. I view his signing not as an attempt to reshape the core of this team, but to put some power and muscle behind the attack they were already trying to build. Between Morant and Lillard, they’re bridging the gap between now and 2028, then assessing whether Morant is worth carrying on with then or do they try to put younger players around Deni and the Incumbents to start the next push into contention.
Hope that answered your question adequately! Tune in tomorrow for the Morant-specific article. In the meantime, can anybody else think of factors they’d consider above the Ja Morant Line this season? If so, share them in the comments section below. And if you’d like to send in your own Mailbag question, you can do so at blazersub@gmail.com. We’ll try to answer as many as possible!
