Trading for Ja Morant created a conundrum for the Portland Trail Blazers’ guard rotation. They now have four high-level guards on the roster with legitimate cases for a starting job. Micah Nori’s coaching will be tested, especially in how he handles Morant’s role moving forward.
Benching Ja Morant Could Happen In The Trail Blazers’ System
The biggest storyline of the offseason for the Trail Blazers has been their unique guard rotation. They traded for Morant, which brought their point guard count to four. All of them are good players, leaving people unsure what they will do in the 2026-27 season.
As a new head coach, Nori will be tested immediately. He seems up for the challenge, but it is valid for Trail Blazers fans to be concerned. Morant is a fantastic player with abundant talent, but playing alongside three other point guards could be a problem for the Blazers’ system.
Nori’s Coaching Will Get Tested Almost Immediately
Morant’s role on the Blazers is not defined just yet. Even Ja himself does not mind which role he will play, as Nori has heard. That has opened the door for some people to ask whether or not Morant could be an option to come off the bench in the 2026-27 season.
“Well, I don’t know, when it comes to things like this, I take people at their word. You said you didn’t care, number one, but the second thing, guys like Ja, guys like Dame, guys like Jrue, who have been around, they want to win, and winning is the most important thing,” Nori said on SiriusXM NBA Radio about the Blazers’ potential rotation.
Could Ja Morant have to come off the bench for the Trail Blazers?
New head coach Micah Nori talks to @termineradio and @jumpshot8 about how he might allocate the minutes of his stacked backcourt in Portland.
Check out our summer league coverage:https://t.co/jnEcXNELrs pic.twitter.com/DmBLdjZSJX— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 13, 2026
As soon as Morant was traded to the Blazers, people were already asking how the team could navigate the situation. Unfortunately for Ja, he has accrued a bad reputation over the past few seasons. That includes his injury troubles, but also his off-court issues affecting his play on the court.
Nori is in a weird spot because he has to prove himself to Tom Dundon and the Blazers’ ownership group in his first year. If he does not impress them, Nori’s team option won’t get activated. That is why he must strike the right balance with his current roster, because he needs to succeed with Portland.
Morant’s Role Will Be An Interesting Situation
Given the Blazers’ guard situation, it might be hard for some players to get playing time. The Blazers have Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson on the roster. This means they will need minutes to shine and contribute.
All of them have shown they can play at a high level, but Lillard is the most proven Blazer. While he left for a couple of seasons, he is a proven superstar with the Trail Blazers. Holiday is also a proven winner due to his two championships.
Henderson is not on that level just yet, but he definitely has the potential to break out as the Blazers’ x-factor. Morant is a multi-time All-Star, so he is also proven. The Blazers have shown there is a plan for Morant and Lillard to start together, while Holiday and Henderson will play off the bench.
The Portland Trail Blazers “envision” a starting backcourt of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, per @ChrisBHaynes
Dynamic duo. 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/L4W96lNkU9
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 29, 2026
Thankfully for Portland, it seems both of those players are fine with coming off the bench. Holiday can play heavy minutes off the bench, especially given his ability to defend small forwards, making him an undersized player in that position.
If Morant can prove himself at training camp under Nori, it could be good for the system. However, Nori and other members of the coaching staff could theorize how Morant can come off the bench, but that can be a non-issue when the regular season comes around.
The Blazers’ System Must Maximize Morant
With Nori’s coaching, the Blazers have to make sure that they are getting the most out of their players. Morant is not the only player they need to consider because they also have Deni Avdija, who was a first-time All-Star in the 2025-26 season.
The likes of Donovan Clingan should be much more involved this time around. It is definitely a more loaded roster than before, but Nori has to find the right rotation and system to succeed with this group. Nori believes in Morant’s potential to become a star, which can be realized if they find the right tactics.
It will definitely be challenging, but it seems everyone on the Blazers is up for the challenge. As soon as they can conclude the real starting group, this team can be dangerous no matter what. As long as they have the abundance of talent they have, the Blazers’ system might be more promising than expected.
Photo Credit: Petre Thomas, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
