Micah Nori is shutting down trade rumors, committing to a defensive powerhouse alongside Ja Morant and Damian Lillard in a bold, guard-heavy rotation aimed at postseason success.
Look away, NBA title contenders. Jrue Holiday isn't available.
Despite speculation that — following the Portland Trail Blazers' blockbuster acquisition of Ja Morant — the franchise would attempt to trim its backcourt by potentially dealing Holiday and others, that theory has been shut down by new head coach Micah Nori.
While speaking to Jason Quick of The Athletic, Nori emphasized Holiday's importance to the Blazers' future success while shutting down any consideration of moving on from the two-time NBA champion.
“I know a lot of people think that these are going to be chain-reaction trades – and who knows how it is going to go, but Jrue Holiday is a big part of what we’ve got going,” Nori said. “And I just want to let him know that I’m going to continue putting him in positions to be successful, and that he’s earned the right to talk to me about what he is comfortable doing.”
Holiday becomes the third guard to get guaranteed a spot on Portland's opening-day roster following a report from Chris Haynes that the Blazers' brass views Morant and Damian Lillard as the starting backcourt.
That leaves Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe — the two youngest members of the guard room — as the potential odd men out, or does it?
Quick continued by stating that Nori "welcomes" the idea of keeping all the guards, believing he can "create confusion" for Portland's opponents through smaller lineups.
Recent examples of four-guard rotations haven't garnered amazing results ... but that may be more likely due to the names that made up those lineups rather than the actual schematic decision.
The Washington Wizards and Scott Brooks attempted to do so back in 2020, playing Russell Westbrook, Ish Smith, Raul Neto and Bradley Beal simultaneously. While that sounds ugly, that Washington team did manage to make the postseason with limited talent.
The Blazers certainly have their sights set higher than the 2020 Wizards, though the latter proved that success can be found through a four-guard lineup.
The important distinction is that while Washington played Robin Lopez and Daniel Gafford, Portland will feature Donovan Clingan. When the Wizards leaned on Davis Bertans, the Blazers will boast Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara.
There is a chance this four-guard experiment turns into a total disaster — in which case GM Joe Cronin and the front office can begin working the phones to try to break up the logjam.
But until that day arrives ... if it ever does ... Portland will continue leaning on smaller lineups in a league increasingly defined by double-big combinations.
