Why Blazers' Ja Morant, Damian Lillard Will Work (And Why They Won't)

The Portland Trail Blazers have two elite offensive guards in Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, but some concerns could determine whether the pairing actually works.

Apr 10, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) watches his teammates during warm ups before the Trail Blazers play against the LA Clippers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Portland Trail Blazers created one of the most electric backcourts in the NBA with the addition of Ja Morant to a group that already featured Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, and Shaedon Sharpe. Morant has made it known that he likes his fit in Portland, but there are still questions surrounding the Blazers' starting lineup for next season.

On paper, the group led by Morant and Lillard sounds unguardable. With Morant's ability to attack the rim explosively, and Lillard remaining one of the most dangerous shooters in the league, this duo could be trouble for opposing defenses.

In reality, one of the Blazers' biggest challenges this season will be figuring out how the pair will work together. The issue does not lie in the talent of either player, as they have both demonstrated that they are more than capable of carrying an offense. But rather, Portland must figure out if they can put both Morant and Lillard on the floor without there being a significant negative effect on their defense.

The Offensive Upside is Obvious

Jan 21, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dunks during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It is not hard to see that the sky is the limit on the offensive side of the ball. Lillard's shooting ability forces defenses to guard him well beyond the three-point line, and Morant's biggest strength is driving in the paint and causing defenses to collapse. Those skills compliment each other perfectly.

Morant and Lillard can both build their own offense and get their teammates involved, which is why the new offense looks like a blank canvas. There are so many different directions it can go in, and the more methods of beating other teams will only make the Blazers stronger.

Deni Avdija led the league last season in drives per game with 19.4, and Morant was not far behind with 15.7, ranking fifth in the league. Having two players that thrive on the drive will force opposing teams to pack the paint, which will open up Lillard on the perimeter for what should be an open 3-point shot.

If Nori can stagger their minutes to where at least one point guard can be on the court at all times, the Blazers offense should be one of the best in the NBA.

While this duo will certainly present some challenges for other teams to figure out, there are also some concerns about this pairing.

The Spacing and Defense Could be Problems

Jan 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Morant and Lillard both standing at 6-2, this would put a significant amount of pressure on the rest of the Portland's starting five to provide shooting and defense at all times.

The Blazers will have to answer some questions in regards to their guard rotation, which also features Sharpe, Holiday and Henderson, who are expected to come off of the bench. The team will also have to make some serious defensive adjustments, but that's what Micah Nori is figuring out in his first summer as the team's head coach. We will see when the season starts how that looks.

The Blazers' can't afford to surround their two star guards with players who are able to be ignored on the perimeter. If defenses send an extra defender to Morant or Lillard, then players like Avdija and Toumani Camara need to make them pay. The continued development of Portland's young core will be extremely important as the Blazers figure out who is a part of their core long term.

However, the bigger concern may be defense.

Particularly in the playoffs, teams are very good at exploiting weakness on the defensive end of the floor. If Portland struggles to keep Lillard and Morant away from defensive mismatches, then they may struggle against more physical matchups.

Morant and Lillard have undeniable talent, but the key for the Blazers will be putting them in favorable situations and surrounding them with players who compliment them well.