Scout Doubts Ja Morant-Damian Lillard Backcourt Fit
An anonymous NBA scout says Ja Morant's knee, conditioning, and shooting could make him a poor backcourt partner for Damian Lillard at Portland this season.
An unnamed NBA scout has questioned whether Ja Morant fits alongside Damian Lillard at Portland, pointing to his knee and his shot selection ahead of the coming season.
"He's got a bad knee, he doesn't really work on his physical conditioning, I doubt he's suddenly become an elite-level shooter, and on top of that he's small. What we end up with is an undersized guard who defends poorly and can't shoot, alongside another small guard [Lillard] who also defends poorly but can at least shoot. So they're probably going to have a hard time," the scout said.
Morant, a two-time All-Star and former Memphis Grizzlies point guard, joined Portland in the off-season. Lillard, back with the Trail Blazers after his spell at Milwaukee, remains the team's leading scorer.
The remarks were made anonymously in a pre-season scouting round-up, and Portland have made no comment in response.
If the concerns hold up, the Trail Blazers' backcourt could be exposed at the defensive end this season, though that verdict will only be tested once games get under way.
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