Ja Morant trade gives Blazers the guard play Spurs and Thunder built contenders with

Rip City Project argues that the Portland Trail Blazers' acquisition of Ja Morant provides the elite guard play required to compete with Western Conference powerhouses like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Writer Reese Kunz contends that adding Morant gives Portland essential ball-handling and playmaking after the team traded away Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

The analysis notes that Portland is following the roster construction blueprints of Oklahoma City and San Antonio by prioritizing heavy guard rotations alongside elite rim protection from centers Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III. While Portland faces questions regarding the health of Morant and Damian Lillard, Kunz believes the unconventional setup elevates the franchise's ceiling toward genuine contention.