Micah Nori decided to start Ja Morant in the backcourt alongside Damian Lillard in the Portland Trail Blazers preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors.
Morant looked rusty at times, finishing with a relatively underwhelming 8 points, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, and 2 steals on 3-of-8 shooting from the field in 19 minutes. But surprisingly, he turned into the type of role player whose two-way impact went well beyond the box score in this contest.
Ja Morant's defense was better than expected
Say what you will about the valid concerns that remain regarding the undersized Morant-Lillard backcourt and the defensive limitations that come from that. Though Nori started the two together, it's still a decision he'll have to continue evaluating as the season progresses -- especially since such a versatile defender and proven winner like Jrue Holiday is the alternative.
Holiday very well could prove to still be the cleaner fit next to Lillard, considering Nori himself has even questioned Morant's fit. That said, his individual defensive effort, impact, and performance were a pleasant surprise. Even if Nori ultimately has to stagger Morant and Lillard's minutes to an extent, this was a promising sign that Morant will be able to buy into whatever role is required of him.
He made that clear at Media Day, saying that it doesn't matter whether he's starting or coming off the bench as long as this team is winning basketball games. It's that type of unselfish mindset that seemingly goes overlooked when people evaluate Morant in general and this trade in particular.
The wonky Ja Morant fit might just work
Is it a perfect fit? No. But it doesn't have to be for this trade to return value for the Blazers, considering all they gave up in return was Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Going forward, Morant still needs to find a better balance. It's encouraging that he's capable of being a role player, but they also invested in Morant's upside and the possibility that he returns to star form. He was too quiet and passive in this game, meaning something has to change for that to come to fruition.
But in terms of easing into his first preseason game with the Blazers, it was an encouraging performance that suggests this murky fit might just work after all.
The added playmaking was to be expected, but it was immediately apparent, as it added another dimension that Portland's offense previously lacked last season, even making life easier for a more efficient Deni Avdija as a result.
But it's the defensive side of the ball where Morant could actually prove he fits into this team identity better than initially expected. Even if he can just buy into that side and utilize his athleticism and ability to anticipate plays, it should be enough to stick around long term.
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