The Portland Trail Blazers were linked to several potential star trade targets this offseason, but polarizing Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant was not one of them. It goes to show how often GM Joe Cronin tends to trade for players not previously linked to Portland in trade rumors, whether that was Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, or now, Morant.
While Avdija and Holiday have already proven to be perfect fits, there's skepticism surrounding how Morant fits into this Blazers roster. The fact that Portland prioritized stockpiling talent instead of trading for fit suggests that they continue to play the long game. Under new owner Tom Dundon, the approach appears to be buying low on distressed assets like Morant in hopes that they will return value with a resurgence in Portland.
With that being the case, why wouldn't the Blazers at least consider the possibility of bringing in Jonathan Kuminga?
Blazers could continue stockpiling assets with Jonathan Kuminga
Portland still has its non-taxpayer midlevel exception to use, but free agency options continue to dwindle. If they can convince Kuminga to agree to a deal that is $15 million or less in the first year, it could follow their Morant blueprint of adding talent and figuring the rest out later.
He's reportedly seeking more than that, but the longer we get into the offseason, the less leverage he has.
While the Blazers haven't necessarily been linked as a potential landing spot for Kuminga, as previously mentioned, they tend to pull off these roster moves out of nowhere -- many of which are initially hard to make sense of.
On the surface, bringing in a star name like Morant could indicate that the Blazers are ready to win under Damian Lillard's closing window. However, the lack of assets surrendered in the deal suggests otherwise. The Blazers aren't a Jaylen Brown-type piece away from contention, and are strategically bringing in high-upside players without sacrificing that future.
Kuminga fits that bill perfectly as a former top ten pick who is just scratching the surface at 23 years old.
Blazers should give Jonathan Kuminga a chance to join their young core
Admittedly, the fit is questionable as he's a career 33.2 percent three-point shooter who would be joining a Blazers roster that just ranked 28th in three-point efficiency. Then again, that didn't stop them from bringing in Morant, a 31.1 percent three-point shooter throughout his career who is overly reliant on getting downhill.
Floor spacing would be an even bigger issue should Portland manage to sign Kuminga with the MLE. But it's also the type of move that adds more star upside for a roster that still lacks the pieces required to compete with the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
If the Blazers are willing to embrace what would clearly be a transitional season, and if Kuminga is willing to accept less than what he's currently seeking, this could be a surprisingly good fit for one another.
Portland needs more wings/forwards, giving Kuminga an immediate path to minutes to tap into that tantalizing potential. Meanwhile, the Blazers need more star power, giving Kuminga an audition to see if he can emerge as part of their unfinished young core.
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