All articles tagged with #portland trail blazers
Timberwolves’ Summer League night against Denver highlighted development needs: backup big Joan Beringer was out with back tightness, Isaiah Evans finally debuted but looked unsettled, and Minnesota will chase answers on Evans, Beringer, and other youngsters ahead of Monday’s game versus Portland.
The piece argues Portland’s Ja Morant trade is a high-risk, high-reward gamble: it acknowledges concerns about defense and fit with Dame Lillard and Jrue Holiday, plus Morant’s injury history, but envisions a path to a top-10 offense through mentorship from Lillard and Holiday, improved chemistry with Deni Avdija, and Morant's potential redemption to boost his value and future trade capital while Portland pursues a flexible cap plan through 2028, contingent on Micah Nori weaving the roster together.
Phoenix Suns rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 81-79 in the 2026 NBA Summer League opener, with Portland's DJ Steward scoring 21 and Yang Hansen adding 12 points and 9 rebounds as the lone Blazer draftee; Suns reserve Javonte Cook had 21, while 2025 pick Khaman Maluach and 2026 pick Koa Peat contributed 19 and 17. The league is testing a one-free-throw rule in Summer League, and Portland's late chance ended with Steward missing a floater as time expired; Portland next faces Orlando on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PST.
Portland opens the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with Yang Hansen and two-way players Chris Youngblood and Jayson Kent, highlighting four scheduled games (with a potential fifth depending on the Las Vegas Tournament) over the coming week. Games are in Pacific time on KUNP/BlazerVision and ESPN networks: Suns on 7/10 at 8 p.m., Magic on 7/12 at 4 p.m., Timberwolves on 7/13 at 8 p.m., Nuggets on 7/16 at 7 p.m. (Nuggets game also on Amazon Prime).
The article envisions five sneaky destinations for LeBron James in 2026—Clippers, Rockets, Jazz, Trail Blazers, and Pacers—each paired with a suggested starting lineup to maximize his impact with a mix of young talent and veterans. It notes ESPN-backed chatter that Cavaliers, Heat, and Warriors are leaders to sign him, with the Nuggets also showing interest.
New Blazers head coach Micah Nori came away from lunch with Ja Morant believing the former All-Star can become his best self, and he intends to tailor Portland's attack toward a pick-and-roll–heavy, smaller-lineup offense designed to leverage Morant's scoring in the paint, moving away from the previous drive-and-kick style. Morant’s past controversy and recent decline in stats provide context.
NBA analyst Bobby Marks says there’s still a viable route for Jaylen Brown to land in Portland, citing the Blazers’ draft capital and guard depth as factors that could meet Boston’s demands, with free agency potentially softening the Celtics’ price.
Oregonian columnist Bill Oram slammed Portland's trade for Ja Morant as an affront to fans and suggested new owner Tom Dundon may be courting discontent ahead of arena-relocation talks, fearing the move could return the Blazers to the Jail Blazers era. Oram argued Morant could be the 'most radioactive' player in the league and urged an 'unrestrained fury' from supporters, framing the deal within broader tensions surrounding ownership and the team's future in Portland.
Portland’s trade of Jerami Grant and Kris Murray for Ja Morant has critics warning that pairing Morant with Damian Lillard creates two weak defenders and legalistic defensive strains for center Donovan Clingan, making the Blazers vulnerable to teams with versatile guards and action-heavy offenses. David Thorpe argues the defensive burden could overwhelm Portland unless Scoot Henderson acts as a pivot to stagger Lillard and Morant, while questioning whether the star duo can commit to defense and whether the coaching setup can sustain it. The piece also revisits past Lillard–McCollum dynamics to illustrate potential long-term challenges.
Portland stunned the league by trading for Ja Morant from Memphis in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, joining a lineup that already features Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson. With Morant in the mix, insiders say the Blazers are more likely to keep Jrue Holiday and have cooled on pursuing Anthony Davis, sending messages to other teams that Holiday isn’t going anywhere. The resulting core—Morant, Holiday, Henderson, Avdija, Clingan, and Sharpe—aims to elevate Portland after a 42-40 playoff finish, with the team eyeing further improvement in the 2026-27 season.
Portland's deal for Ja Morant marks a major roster shakeup and elevates Donovan Clingan as the defensive anchor, making him effectively untouchable in trades; the Blazers now field a guard-heavy backcourt with Morant, Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson, and are seeking more big-man depth while remaining active on the market in the coming days.
Portland signaled it will retain Jrue Holiday after trading for Ja Morant, planning to deploy Holiday at shooting guard and small forward to coexist with Scoot Henderson and Damian Lillard. While a Holiday trade isn’t guaranteed, the Blazers aren’t rushing to move him or Donovan Clingan (off-limits) as they pursue frontcourt upgrades, anticipating the possible departure of Robert Williams in free agency; analysts question the Morant deal’s fit and impact.
Memphis trades Ja Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, signaling a clean pivot away from the Morant era; Morant gets a fresh start with Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday in Portland, a move Blazer fans are embracing as a potential game‑changer, while Scoot Henderson could lose minutes. Memphis’ move marks a broader rebuild and a shift away from the Morant–Bane–Jackson trio.
Portland acquires Ja Morant from Memphis in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, adding a two-time All-Star guard to lead the Blazers as Memphis reshapes its roster.
Memphis sent Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, ending Morant’s seven-year run in Memphis and signaling a Grizzlies rebuild amid injuries and off-court issues; the move follows earlier roster shakeups (Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. departures) as Morant’s scoring and availability declined in recent seasons.