This NBA offseason hasn't disappointed, with several stars finding new landing spots. The Portland Trail Blazers were expected to make a splash of their own, and to an extent they did, landing a star name in Ja Morant.
However, seeing as they sacrificed Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, and no draft capital, this move was far more conservative than Morant's star name would lead many to believe.
It's good value to buy low on Morant, hoping he benefits from a change of scenery. But it's also a poor fit, given the Blazers' need for shooting and their previously established defensive identity.
The roster that GM Joe Cronin has patiently assembled over the years prioritized length, athleticism, and defense. Morant has one of those traits, as he remains among the league's high-flyers, but Portland has lost much of its identity with this trade.
LaMelo Ball would've fit better with Portland's roster
Not to say LaMelo Ball is a lockdown defender or even known for his athleticism, but it feels like the Blazers took on the wrong polarizing star guard this summer. Ball would've played into that versatility far better, given his shooting and positional size as a 6-foot-7 guard.
Can you imagine teams trying to gameplan against Ball and Deni Avdija as the two primary offensive initiators? It would be a matchup nightmare, especially since you can no longer sag off the perimeter with Damian Lillard now in the picture to keep defenses honest.
The Minnesota Timberwolves paid more of a premium for the better asset in Ball. Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, and 2030), and three second-round picks is quite the blockbuster haul. That's a significant amount more than the Blazers' swap of one negative asset for another, with a trade sweetener of Murray, who was always an offensive liability.
But the Blazers have been stockpiling assets to put them in a position to make a true blockbuster move like this. One that actually moves the needle in terms of their place in the Western Conference picture.
Following the Ball blockbuster, Portland was surprisingly mentioned as one of the teams that expressed interest. In retrospect, it's easy to see why.
They have all this confidence in their frontcourt building blocks and are still in search of their long-term backcourt. The Morant trade is a low-risk move in hopes of addressing that, but a Ball trade would've been a premium that guarantees you're set.
Time will tell if Portland's conservative approach was the right decision, but we'd prefer the one who's not only the better player, but also a far better fit.
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