The Portland Trail Blazers enter the 2026-27 season with a revamped backcourt after Damian Lillard's anticipated return and the surprising trade for polarizing Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. With no follow-up move, it appears Portland's front office is willing to see if this undersized, offensive-minded duo can effectively play alongside each other.
Head coach Micah Nori will have to decide whether they should start together, but regardless, the two guards will be sharing the court a good amount this season. Will that talent prove to be a backcourt upgrade, or will the questionable fit set the Blazers back?
P.J. Carlesimo believes in a Morant-Lillard backcourt
Former Blazers head coach P.J. Carlesimo believes it's the former, saying in a recent exclusive interview with NEXTPredict's Kyle Odegard that a Morant-Lillard backcourt can mesh effectively.
Carlesimo was adamant that the two guards can make it work: "I don't think there's any question," he said.
He also highlighted Lillard's unselfishness and high basketball IQ to make sure the two lift each other's games.
"Not that Ja is not capable of adjusting, but Dame is such a smart player. Dame will figure it out. Dame will do whatever it takes for the two of them to excel. And Dame will go out of his way to make sure Ja gets back to being Ja," Carlesimo continued. "Dame’s game is so good and he’s so smart. He will do whatever he needs to do to still be Dame, and yet at the same time, there’s no bad ego there with Dame. He will make sure things work out for Ja.”
Morant will certainly benefit from Lillard's veteran leadership both on and off the court. While it's a murky fit in a crowded backcourt, a change of scenery could be just what Morant needs to revive his career.
As Carlesimo pointed out, Morant isn't that far removed from being in the conversation as one of the best players in the league:
“Some people forget, face of the league is what people were saying at that point. Not a good player, a spectacular player. You loved to watch him play. I just hope he gets back to what he was, or even close, and plays the way Ja Morant can play.”
This young Blazers team just reached the postseason and now adds two former All-Stars, Lillard and Morant, to its backcourt. On paper, it's one of the most talented teams either star guard has ever played with in their respective careers.
Micah Nori will help make it work, too
Are Lillard and Morant a perfect fit together? No. But they don't necessarily need to be to make this formula work.
The defensive limitations will somewhat be covered for with Portland's frontcourt building blocks: Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan. Plus Jrue Holiday remains one of the league's premier perimeter defenders despite his declining athleticism at 36.
Perhaps the most underrated ingredient in this formula is first-year head coach Micah Nori. Carlesimo, a close friend of Nori's, gave him a vote of confidence in the interview with Odegard.
“Micah Nori is a really close friend," Carlesimo said. "We worked together in Toronto for a year. He’s going to do a great job. If they give him the wherewithal, he’s going to surprise people. I’m sure there are a lot of people who aren’t aware how good of a coach he is.”
Considering how cheap Morant was to acquire from Memphis, the Blazers' front office decided it was a calculated risk to hope the talent wins out over fit.
Concerning red flags surround Morant's arrival. His defensive limitations alongside Lillard, floor-spacing concerns for a Blazers team already struggling to shoot, and a downhill, ball-dominant game getting in the way of Deni Avdija's continued growth.
But what if most of those concerns are being blown out of proportion this offseason?
Ja Morant could be the bridge between two timelines
At the end of the day, Morant is a drastic talent upgrade for a Blazers team that had question marks regarding their long-term backcourt. They don't have to worry about Holiday and Lillard producing, but do have to worry about having two aging stars and how their closing windows align with a young core in a strange two-timeline approach.
That's where Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe were supposed to come in and take the keys, but Portland hasn't extended Henderson this summer, and Sharpe is out for six months with another injury.
Why not give Morant a chance to prove he can bridge these two timelines?
A future starting lineup of Morant, X, Camara, Avdija, and Clingan really doesn't sound that poor-fitting on paper. Portland will have to deal with the Morant-Lillard fit in the meantime, but as Carlesimo said, Lillard will do everything to make it work, at least offensively.
This could even prove to be the pairing we never knew we needed if Lillard can unlock Morant and get him back to playing like his former All-Star self.
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