After trading for Ja Morant, the Portland Trail Blazers are in a unique situation. The Blazers’ guard rotation is extensive, but it seems Portland’s roster will continue on this path. Micah Nori’s system already has an uphill battle with this roster, but they are ready to keep going.
The Trail Blazers’ Guard Situation And How They Will Play
Over the past 14 years or so, the Trail Blazers have been defined by their star guards. Damian Lillard is the obvious name to mention because he has been the Blazers’ guard representative for the longest time. He went away for a couple of years, but now, he’s back and ready to be a superstar again, albeit older and more physically tested.
Apart from Lillard and Morant, the Blazers still have veteran and two-time champion Jrue Holiday. Lastly, they have the third overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft, Scoot Henderson. It is an interesting group of guards on the roster, and it seems the front office is ready to enter the 2026-27 season with all four on the squad.
Nori’s System Will Get Immediately Tested
Nori will be facing adversity from the jump. It will be challenging for him because he is on a unique contract that requires him to produce results from Day 1. If he does not, the Blazers can choose not to activate his team options for the two following seasons.
The Blazers had an impressive 2025-26 season under acting head coach Tiago Splitter. Considering they were playing with Chauncey Billups’ principles for the most part, it was an impressive run. Now, they will be playing Nori’s system, as they will have a full training camp with him at the helm.
I think Micah Nori said more in this one answer about how he wants the Blazers to play than Tiago did over the entire course of last season
(from KGW8 YouTube: https://t.co/CVtvR6gtQO) pic.twitter.com/YykZCUh5XW
— Blazers Lead (@BlazersLead) June 25, 2026
Nori is a promising head coach who is hungry to prove himself. Nori has been around for a long time, and he has been itching for an opportunity to be a team’s top guy. While he may be on a short leash, it seems the Blazers are 100% fully behind him and his system.
This four-guard rotation is unique because it shows immense talent in the backcourt. It’s not only the quartet; they also have shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe, who will play a major role on this team. As long as Nori is in charge, he will likely find a way to resolve the supposed issues, given his coaching pedigree.
The Blazers’ Guard Rotation Can Work
During his career, Lillard has played with plenty of guards. The most successful has to be his time alongside CJ McCollum. It was a partnership with both players being 6’3″. It was quite a unique duo, but it worked for a long time.
The Blazers were one of the best teams in the Western Conference during their time together. They reached the Conference Finals in 2019, but they were trounced by the mighty Golden State Warriors, who did not even have Kevin Durant active at the time.
Damian Lillard welcomes Ja Morant to Portland
This duo. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/KWo0VKqg8b
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 30, 2026
Apart from CJ, Dame also played alongside Anfernee Simons, another 6’3″ guard. It was a fruitful partnership because Simons looked up to Lillard, and it worked offensively because both were amazing shooters. Unfortunately, like many of these small guard partnerships, defense was the issue.
Now that the plan is for Lillard and Morant to start together, those defensive issues might resurface. Thankfully, the other three starters will be positive defenders: Deni Avdija and the two All-Defensive-caliber players, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara. As long as Nori can figure out the rotation, this could be a dangerous team out in the West.
Portland’s Roster Still Needs Some Adjustments
Of course, it will be challenging to continue with this plan without having some adjustments to the roster. Trading Jerami Grant and Kris Murray has cemented the fact that the Blazers lack depth at power forward. Camara is the starter, but he does not have adequate backup beyond Sidy Cissoko.
This also likely played a role in the Blazers not re-signing Matisse Thybulle just yet. Portland might want to make further moves to improve the roster, as they continue to navigate the Morant trade.
General manager Joe Cronin still has some work to do to maximize the 2026-27 season. Nori is a proven assistant coach, but this is his first stint as a head coach. So, Nori needs as much support as he can get.
Photo Credit: Scott Wachter, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
