Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori said Ja Morant’s role will be determined by what gives the team the best chance to win, emphasizing that veteran players must be willing to adjust if necessary.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Sunday, Nori addressed questions about how Morant will fit alongside Portland’s crowded group of guards, including Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. Nori said winning will be the priority for players with extensive NBA experience.
“I take people with their word,” Nori said. “My thing is you can say, and if it has to come to that, say, ‘Hey, well you said you didn’t care.’ But the second thing is I really believe guys like Ja, guys like Dame, guys like Jrue that have been through it, been around, they want to win and winning is the most important thing.”
Morant was acquired by Portland on June 29 in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that sent Jerami Grant, Kris Murray and future second-round picks to Memphis. The two-time All-Star is entering the next phase of his career after averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in 20 games during the 2025-26 season, while shooting 41.0% from the field.
The Trail Blazers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 42-40 record, earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference before losing to the eventual conference champion San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the first round. Portland’s roster now includes several ball handlers and creators, with Lillard, Holiday, Morant, Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe all capable of handling offensive responsibilities.
Nori said the team’s rotation flexibility could allow Portland to maximize its talent without being restricted by traditional positions.
“We’ve got four spots, one through four,” Nori said. “They may be small. They may be this. Obviously, when you talk about Clingan and Robert at the five, the majority of the time or whatnot, but they’re going to get their minutes.”
The Blazers’ frontcourt features Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, giving the team two established centers to anchor the defense. Clingan started all 77 games he played in last season and averaged 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, while Williams averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 59 appearances.
Nori believes Portland’s depth can allow its star players to maintain energy throughout games rather than carrying excessive workloads.
“We’re going to be able to play hard and put pressure on people and exert some energy early,” Nori said. “Hopefully they do play themselves to not exhaustion, but where they can get out and go back in and they can give us really good 28 to 32 minutes.”
Morant has already embraced the challenge of joining a new team and said he is focused on changing perceptions after the off-court issues that affected his time in Memphis. Portland’s coaching staff now faces the task of integrating his elite playmaking with a roster that already features multiple high-level creators.
