PODCAST: What Ja Morant Unlocks in Portland

On this episode, the focus is on what it would actually take for Portland to make a major leap this season. There are plenty of players on the roster who could contribute to a more competitive team, but the Blazers are unlikely to get where they want to go because of one small improvement or one young player taking a step. It is going to require progress across the rotation.

That said, there is one player whose upside could dramatically change the ceiling of the entire team: Ja Morant. Portland does not need Morant to suddenly return to being a full-fledged superstar for the move to have a major impact. The fact that he has already played at that level, though, shows just how much talent is still there if he can get himself back on track.

The episode breaks down why Morant is such a unique X-factor for the Blazers. Even a strong version of Morant, without expecting the absolute peak version of his game, could give Portland a level of explosiveness and offensive creation that changes how the entire roster fits together. Few players on the team have the ability to swing Portland’s upside as dramatically as he does.

There will still need to be growth around him. Young players have to continue developing, veterans have to fill their roles, and the roster as a whole has to become more consistent if Portland wants to turn into a legitimate threat in the Western Conference.

But if there is one individual player who could accelerate that process, it is Morant. Expectations should remain reasonable, but his ceiling remains higher than almost anyone else on the roster. If Portland can help him rediscover even a significant portion of the player he has been before, the Blazers’ outlook could change in a hurry.