The Blazers’ new head coach believes strategic deployment, not just Damian Lillard’s return, will fix Portland's stagnant perimeter game by putting existing roster pieces in positions to thrive.
Before Micah Nori's arrival in Rip City, the Portland Trail Blazers were among the worst three-point shooting groups in the NBA.
Portland held the second-lowest three-point percentage leaguewide in 2025-26, hitting at a 34.3% clip.
Granted, the Blazers were without Damian Lillard — who ironically won the three-point contest during All-Star Weekend — due to a torn Achilles. He'll be back next season, which should help raise Portland's percentage.
According to Nori, however, adding one of the greatest shooters in NBA history isn't the only reason Portland's outside shooting should improve.
During his introductory press conference, the first-year head coach suggested the Blazers' problem wasn't necessarily personnel as much as deployment.
"When you dig deeper, the three-point shooting, a lot of these guys, they can make threes, but in certain ways," Nori said. "Maybe some of them are better catch-and-shoot, some are better coming off ball screens. Maybe some are better going stepback left as opposed to right."
Nori explained that his coaching staff's responsibility is identifying exactly where each player thrives and tailoring Portland's offense accordingly rather than asking everyone to generate the same types of looks.
That's particularly important for a Blazers roster filled with young perimeter players who possess vastly different offensive skill sets.
Shaedon Sharpe remains at his best attacking closeouts.
Scoot Henderson has shown flashes as a mid-range pull-up shooter coming off screens but remains inconsistent in spot-up situations.
Deni Avdija has developed into a reliable catch-and-shoot option when defenses collapse elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Toumani Camara held the highest hit rate of the young core last season, owning a 37% hit rate while likely being the most reliable of the bunch.
Nori's objective appears to be simplifying those decisions rather than reinventing the wheel.
If Portland can generate more shots in each player's comfort zones while simultaneously reintegrating Lillard into the lineup, the franchise's three-point numbers could improve dramatically without requiring major roster changes.
But that's not to say they wouldn't be welcomed.
The Blazers would be doing themselves a disservice not to at least inquire should a player like Klay Thompson become available on the trade market.
He'd be a low-cost option that would make a massive difference immediately.
And there's a chance Portland wouldn't even need to swing a trade for him should Thompson be able to force a buyout to make him a free agent, though the Miami Heat would be the likely frontrunners for his services.
Even if Portland eventually adds another shooter, Nori appears intent on proving the Blazers already have more spacing potential than last year's numbers suggest.
