An anonymous NBA scout has raised concerns about Ja Morant’s physical condition, shooting and defensive fit alongside Damian Lillard as the Portland Trail Blazers prepare for the 2026-27 season.
Sports Illustrated reported the scout’s assessment with the guard’s health and conditioning among the biggest issues highlighted.
“He’s got a bad knee, doesn’t really work on his physical fitness, I doubt that he’s all of a sudden become an elite-level shooter, and he’s small,” the scout said.
“So you have that, you’ve got a bad defender who’s a small guard who can’t shoot, who physically is unfit, paired next to a small guard who’s a bad defender and who can shoot [in Lillard]. So probably going to be tough.”
Morant is entering a new chapter in Portland after the Trail Blazers acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies in June. Portland sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis in exchange for the two-time All-Star and $1 million in cash.
The 27-year-old guard has been one of the NBA’s most productive offensive players when available, but his recent production has declined from his 2021-22 peak.
Morant averaged a career-high 27.4 points per game in 2021-22 while shooting 34.4% from three-point range and recording 6.7 assists. He followed that with 26.2 points and 8.1 assists in 2022-23.
His availability and efficiency have since become more inconsistent. Morant played only nine games in 2023-24 and averaged 25.1 points, while he appeared in 50 games the following season and averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists.
In 20 games during the 2025-26 season, Morant averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists while shooting 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range. His 3-point percentage was the lowest of his career.
The Blazers are nevertheless betting on Morant returning to a higher level in a significantly different environment. Portland also expects Lillard to return after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles, giving the team two high-profile guards with extensive offensive responsibilities.
The backcourt also includes Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday, while Shaedon Sharpe is expected to miss approximately six months after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee.
That leaves new head coach Micah Nori with a complicated rotation to manage. The scout’s comments underline the central question surrounding Portland’s roster: whether Morant and Lillard can provide enough offensive value to offset concerns about their size and defense when sharing the backcourt.
