The Portland Trail Blazers landed Ja Morant this offseason, hoping he'd return to form, buying low on a former two-time All-Star who should, in theory, be in his prime at 27. Say what you will about (valid) concerns surrounding Morant's fit, injury history, and contract, but there's no denying this was a drastic yet cheap talent upgrade for Portland.
Morant should also benefit from a change of scenery, not just in terms of veteran mentorship with Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, but also by shedding the narratives that surrounded his Memphis Grizzlies tenure.
"Everything that's happened over the years pretty much was just stuck with me," Morant said at Media Day on Monday. "Everybody keeps bringing them up. As long as Memphis was across my chest, it was still getting said. I'm pretty sure everybody is here probably still judging me off that, but now I get to start over."
Ja Morant could thrive with his new role in Portland
At Media Day, Morant seemed happy for a fresh start and eager to prove himself this season. You didn't get a sense of the personality or character concerns the media has previously portrayed him as having.
It's a bold trade, but the Blazers have the infrastructure in place to get the most out of Morant. Besides, general manager Joe Cronin deserves the benefit of the doubt, as once-controversial trades have tended to work out in the favor of this rebuild.
Cronin was criticized when the rebuilding Blazers attached two first-round picks to steal rising Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards. Many even thought he should've taken the Miami Heat trade package instead of the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard deal, a decision that has aged even better than expected with Giannis Antetokounmpo no longer in Milwaukee.
This Morant trade has a better chance of working out in Portland's favor than many are giving it credit for. If it does, Cronin and the Blazers need to start thinking about what their next move is for this unfinished roster.
Blazers need another two-way wing to round out future starting 5
Assuming Morant emerges as the long-term answer at point guard, the Blazers would have four long-term starters: Morant, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan.
The positional versatility of Camara and Avdija at least gives Portland the flexibility to add another position two through four for that final starting spot. Right now that void will likely be filled by Damian Lillard, who shouldn't be underestimated after taking an entire year off to recover from his torn Achilles.
Still, Lillard's window is unfortunately closing at 36 years old, and Cornin must be proactive about what he wants this backcourt to look like going forward. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe don't appear to be the answer, hence the decision to take a flyer on Morant this offseason.
That's likely the next step if Morant thrives in Portland. Trey Murphy III is a potential trade target who would fit in seamlessly with that unit. But even if it's not specifically the Pelicans' rising star they're able to land, those two-way wings are Portland's best bet to round out this starting unit going forward.
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