Portland Trail Blazers Plan New Roles for Jha Morant and Deni Avdija in Upcoming NBA Season

The Portland Trail Blazers officially acquired Jha Morant in a surprising trade involving Kris Murray and Jerami Grant, signaling a significant shift in the team's dynamics ahead of the 2026 NBA season. Reports from the United States indicate that Portland intends to start Morant alongside Damian Lillard in the lineup, experimenting with a three-guard formation that also includes Jrue Holiday. This new setup aims to blend Morant's and Lillard's playmaking abilities with Holiday's presence, raising questions about how Deni Avdija, the team's top player last season, will fit into this revamped roster.

Last season, Avdija carried much of the offensive load, playing nearly point guard due to injuries to Holiday and Scott Henderson. Before a back injury slowed him down, Avdija averaged 26.1 points, 6.9 assists, and took 17 shots per game, but the heavy burden affected his efficiency and durability. The Blazers hope that with Morant and Lillard sharing ball-handling duties, Avdija can reduce his minutes from 35.4 to around 32 per game and focus his energy more strategically, especially in the crucial final quarters.

Offensively, Avdija's role is expected to evolve from creating his own shots to benefiting from defenses concentrating on Morant and Lillard. This could allow him to take more open shots and cut to the basket more frequently, increasing his efficiency. Defensively, the Blazers plan to leverage Avdija's strong defensive skills by assigning him as a versatile defender who can disrupt passing lanes and guard multiple positions, complementing teammates like Klingen and Kamara.

The addition of Morant, who struggles with three-point shooting but excels at free throws, alongside shooters like Klingen and Kamara, may create spacing challenges in the paint. Portland aims to address this through increased off-ball movement, guard-to-guard screens, and a faster pace of play, potentially elevating the team from the 10th to a top-five or even top-three league ranking.

Ultimately, Avdija will no longer be expected to shoulder the offense alone as he did last season. While his individual statistics might decline, the Blazers anticipate that this new balance will improve both the team's overall performance and Avdija's effectiveness as a player.