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 important players, the move is not without risk, Jeremy Brenner writes for Sports Illustrated.
The first and most obvious concern is Morant’s health and overall ability to stay on the floor. The high-flying guard has played in just 79 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons due to a combination of injuries and off-the-court incidents.
Morant’s talent is undeniable, but the mindset and physical ability to withstand the rigors of an NBA season are real causes for concern, according to Brenner, an anonymous NBA scout.
“You have a bad defender who is a small guard who can’t shoot, who is not physically fit, paired next to a small guard who is a bad defender and who can shoot (in Damian Lillard)” – said the scout.It will probably be difficult.”
The Blazers have three point guards who need minutes next season: Morant, Lillard and Scoot Hendersonnone of whom are known as strong defenders. Head coach Mika Nori will have to figure out how to manage that rotation while working in the Jrue’s holiday and Shaedon Sharp one day a young Canadian Guardsman returns from an injury in the second half of the season.
We have more from Portland:
- 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, posting .515/.423/.842 shooting on 3.6 three-point attempts per game. While the 6-foot-9 big man can play anywhere in the frontcourt, the Blazers envision him as a skilled, space forward this season. Joe Freeman writes for The Oregonian. Because Potter was picked up off waivers this summer, his deal remains non-guaranteed until January, but Freeman sees him providing a backup big man role given the team’s desire to add shooting from multiple spots on the floor.
- Portland also added a third-year center Brendan Carlson this summer after the 7-footer played the last two seasons with the Thunder. Although he is not expected to play a major role this season, especially with three years to go expansion the team agreed to p Robert Williams III, his combination of shooting potential, rim-running ability and shot-blocking was intriguing for the Blazers, according to Freeman. If Williams misses 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 upgrade were met with protests from the Sunrise PDX climate action group, which argued the money should instead go to schools, teachers and helping with ongoing city labor negotiations. Noel Crombie writes for The Oregonian. The renovation, the need for which has been emphasized by the NBA, is expected to cost about 600 million dollars. “We’re facing 20 school closures in Portland Public Schools while the city, state and county just invested $365 million in a billionaire renovation of the Moda Center while our schools struggle” said Alisha Chavez, president of the Portland Teachers Association.
