Portland's overstocked backcourt hinges on Lillard, Morant form

Avdija jumped from 16.9 to 24.2 points last season

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

“The backcourt might be overstocked, assuming veterans Damian Lillard and Ja Morant can perform close to their former se Via @NBA on X

What happened: Portland enters 2026-27 with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant sharing the backcourt alongside 6-foot-8 forward Deni Avdija. The evaluation questions whether the veteran guards can perform near their former selves. Avdija operated as Portland's primary offensive initiator last season.

Why it matters: How on-ball duties divide will define the rotation and shot distribution into the upcoming season. Continued creation from the Morant-Lillard-Avdija trio builds on Avdija's breakout year as team MVP.

By the numbers: Avdija increased his scoring average from 16.9 to 24.2 last season while initiating offense as a 6-foot-8 forward.

What to watch: Preseason play will show how the Lillard-Morant pairing functions alongside Avdija's initiation.

Sources

@NBA 2026-10-13T18:11:26.879487+00:00

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