The Portland Trail Blazers’ unexpected trade for Ja Morant has shifted the franchise’s summer narrative, even as new owner Tom Dundon clashes with local officials over a proposed $600 million renovation of the Moda Center.
Backcourt shake-up
Portland already had a crowded guard rotation, yet the club moved quickly to acquire Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant told Yahoo Sports he is eager to share the floor with Damian Lillard and glean lessons from the 12-year veteran.
Analysts point to a potentially complementary skill set. Lillard ranks 27th all time in made three-pointers, while Morant’s ability to penetrate and distribute could upgrade an offense that finished 28th in three-point percentage last season. The Blazers also committed turnovers on 16.9 percent of their possessions, the worst mark in the NBA; team officials believe a Morant-Lillard tandem can cut that figure.
Morant’s size creates defensive challenges, but coaches note his effort level and expect the pair to compete, even against bigger backcourts.
Owner’s “buy-low” philosophy
Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report writes that Dundon’s reputation for purchasing distressed assets—an approach that aided his Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run—helped drive the Morant deal.
Nori starts relationship-building
New head coach Micah Nori met Morant for a two-hour lunch Tuesday in South Carolina, a coincidence that overlapped with Nori’s previously planned family vacation. “You could just tell in his face that he missed basketball,” Nori recalled, adding that Morant is focused on “the opportunity to win basketball games and not have to play for ping-pong balls.”
Nori heads next to Los Angeles to meet with Jrue Holiday. Despite widespread speculation that Holiday could be moved, the coach intends to reassure the veteran he remains integral to Portland’s strategy alongside Lillard, Morant and second-year guard Scoot Henderson. Nori said he values the lineup flexibility those four guards provide.
Arena funding standoff
Dundon told The Oregonian he will not contribute personal funds to the $600 million Moda Center upgrade, arguing that keeping the team in Portland represents sufficient sacrifice. Several members of the 12-person city council disagree. “I am going to have a hard time agreeing to give public money if I’m not seeing a private investment,” one councilor said during a recent Portland Metro Chamber meeting. Councilor Angelita Morillo called the current options “shaky at best and fiscally irresponsible at worst.” With both sides entrenched, the timetable and financing for the renovation remain unresolved.
Source: Hoops Rumors
