Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori believes they can get the best version of Ja Morant after a productive lunch meeting with him at a South Carolina steakhouse on Tuesday.
The Blazers have been quite busy this past week. First, they hired Nori to become their new head coach and acquired the two-time NBA All-Star from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
“I think we are going to get the best version of Ja. I think we are going to get a motivated Ja. The way he was talking, the way he looked… the intent he had, you could just tell in his face that he missed basketball,” Nori said of Morant via The Athletic.
“And he assured that we were going to get the best Ja and that he was going to do all the right things. I told him the Trail Blazers don’t need you to do anything special. Just be you, be the best version of yourself.”
MORE:Projecting the 2026 Portland Trail Blazers starting lineup after Ja Morant trade
Ja Morant’s arrival will reshape the Blazers’ playbook and tactics
The Portland Trail Blazers suddenly have a point guard logjam after acquiring Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies, adding to their roster that already includes Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson.
Despite this, head coach Micah Nori welcomes the idea of keeping them all, as he plans to deploy small-ball lineups to maximize their playmaking and shot-creating skills. Besides their four point guards, the Blazers still have Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and Toumani Camara, among others.
Lillard could shift to shooting guard, given his elite outside shooting. However, rust could be an issue for the 35-year-old, as he is coming off an Achilles injury.
In addition to adding Morant, the Blazers signed free agents Robert Williams III and Branden Carlson, bolstering their frontcourt depth.
About the Author
