The 2026 NBA offseason has been business as usual for most teams, but for the Portland Trail Blazers, it has been anything but the norm. 

Even if you go back to the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the Blazers were already making headlines for the wrong reasons. From scrimping on postseason t-shirts to reports of low-ball offers to head coaches, Portland was moving in circles, while everyone else found a path forward. Their latest move certainly adds credence to that. 

Acquiring Ja Morant in itself is not so much the issue here, but rather, it is whether or not there was a need to do so. The Blazers currently have Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Jrue Holiday on their roster, and while Deni Avdija is listed as a forward, he often has the ball in his hands and functions as a guard. In fact, Henderson, Holiday, Sharpe, and Avdija all played at least 24 minutes per last season, with Lillard still working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon. 

Could all be on the court together at the same time? It would not make sense not because of the overlap, but also because of the holes it would create on defense. Teams will exploit Morant and Lillard, who themselves have been targeted in the past. Portland’s frontcourt depth also took a hit as they had to give up Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in the trade. The move itself also raises some durability issues for the Blazers, as health concerns have plagued Morant, Lillard, and even Holiday. 

However, you can’t blame Portland for pulling the trigger. Morant is still a dynamic player when healthy and when his life outside of the court isn’t a distraction, he can carry a team to great heights. Morant and Lillard can form a dynamic 1-2 punch on offense where finesse and power can be blended together. 

However, something, or rather someone, will have to give in heading into the season, whether that is a diminished role or a move to another team. Holiday is likely to be a buyout or trade candidate and in the past, that has worked well for him. The former UCLA Bruin was a Blazer for four days in 2023 before he was sent to the Boston Celtics, where he won his second NBA championship.  

Ideally, trades are supposed to resolve issues within a roster, but Portland’s decision to acquire Morant raises more questions about the Blazer’s direction. Morant clearly wants to win now and Portland wants to be competitive, but most of their major contributors overlap with what Morant can contribute. 

Thankfully, the offseason has just begun and the Portland Trail Blazers can make more moves. Because it will take more than this for them to return to glory and perhaps exit their austerity phase.