​Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the court following the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Photo Credit: Brian Westerholt, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect | Source: Lastwordonsports.com – Daniel Benjamin, EditorThe Portland Trail Blazers shocked the NBA when they pulled the trigger on a trade for Ja Morant. It is an exciting campaign ahead for the Blazers’ roster, as they now have Morant’s redemption tour to think about while playing under first-year head coach Micah Nori.Ja Morant’s Redemption Can Happen With The Trail BlazersThe 2026-27 season will be an exciting one for the Trail Blazers because they are getting Damian Lillard back and adding Morant’s exciting brand of basketball. They will be the starting backcourt for this team, which has a limitless ceiling offensively.Of course, it is easy to say that they have some problems on defense. That could be covered in Nori’s system, especially with Toumani Camara serving as the primary perimeter stopper. With the 2026-27 season set to be a big one for Portland, Morant’s redemption could come in Rip City.The Blazers’ Roster Has The Talent To CompeteWhen people talk about the Trail Blazers, they often focus on the new backcourt and Deni Avdija. Yes, Morant, Lillard, and Avdija are the top-three players on the roster at the moment, but they have a much deeper team than most realize. They still have Jrue Holiday coming off the bench, who just had a resurgent campaign in the 2025-26 season in Portland.At the same time, they have a hungry group in Camara, Donovan Clingan, and Scoot Henderson all playing important roles for the Blazers. Nori’s system should fit them like a glove, especially given that he was part of a winning team in Minnesota that included players like Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.Rip City, welcome our new head coach, Micah Nori! pic.twitter.com/XG0Rnc2ZjI— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 23, 2026Some people are overlooking the Blazers’ roster, even though the team has a high ceiling. It is normal to feel a bit shaky about the backcourt of Lillard and Morant, but this is a hungry team. They just made the playoffs for the first time in five years in 2026, so they want to keep that going.With Lillard hungry to prove he still belongs in the league as a star, he will be motivated. However, Morant’s redemption might be the story to follow, as he wants to be the player who takes this Blazers team into title contention.Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum. Photo Credit: Petre Thomas, Imagn Images vs Reuters ConnectMorant’s Redemption Is In Full Force In PortlandIt has been a rough three years for Morant, as he has only played 79 games out of a possible 246 games. His numbers also dipped while he was active, which did not help him maintain staying power in Memphis. Everyone saw him as a superstar guard there, but the injuries got to be