Portland Trail Blazers Embrace Radical NBA Strategy Centered on Multiple Ball-Handlers

The Portland Trail Blazers are undertaking an unconventional experiment for the upcoming NBA season by building a roster heavily focused on multiple primary ball-handlers. This summer, Portland acquired injured Memphis guard Ja Morant in a surprising trade that sent Kris Murray and Jerami Grant away, despite already having an abundance of guards. They also signed center Brendan Carlson and attempted to sign Kelly Oubre, aiming to assemble a lineup with six players comfortable handling the ball: Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Scott Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Danny Abdiya, and potentially Oubre.

Portland’s approach deviates from the league’s prevalent "drive and kick" offense, which emphasizes penetration followed by three-point shooting. Instead, the Blazers plan to implement a "drive and drive" system, focusing on aggressive, continuous drives to the basket by multiple scorers. This strategy leverages the strengths of Lillard, Morant, and Abdiya, who will alternate attacking the rim to either score or draw fouls, with the others ready to take over if defenses collapse.

The team ranked fourth last season in shots at the rim and expects to increase that number. While Portland still struggles with three-point shooting, Morant’s career average is 31.1% and Henderson’s is 35.2%, they are prioritizing interior aggression over perimeter shooting. The addition of Carlson, a center known for shooting more threes than twos, supports a fast-paced defense and transition game by conserving energy and spacing the floor.

Portland’s plan also accounts for managing the health of Lillard and Morant, both returning from serious injuries, by potentially limiting their minutes together to under 50 games. Sharpe and Henderson will maintain intensity levels when the stars rest. The team’s success will depend on role players like Donovan Klingen and Tommani Kamara hitting open shots to prevent defenses from collapsing inside.

This radical, less conventional style aims to challenge the NBA’s norm and could make Portland a unique playoff contender. While it remains uncertain if this strategy will succeed in a league that often exploits defensive weaknesses, it promises an intriguing season for Danny Abdiya and the Blazers’ roster. Portland still has time before the 2026-27 season begins to adjust or add shooters, but their current trajectory signals a bold shift away from traditional NBA offenses.