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Ja Morant Injury Could Have One Silver Lining For Trail Blazers
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- Ja Morant Injury Could Have One Silver Lining For Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
The Portland Trail Blazers have suffered an unfortunate setback early in the 2026-27 season, but there could be a silver lining to Ja Morant's recent injury. With the two-time All-Star expected to miss at least four weeks, Portland will need someone to step up in its backcourt. That could create a much-needed opportunity for Scoot Henderson to get more playing time and, hopefully, take another step forward in his development.
Morant exited Thursday night's matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies with a hamstring injury. An MRI later revealed a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring, and the Trail Blazers announced that he would be reevaluated in four weeks. Considering how important Morant was becoming to Portland's backcourt, his absence is a significant blow.
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However, Henderson could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the unfortunate situation. The former No. 3 overall pick entered the season facing plenty of competition for minutes. Between Morant, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, opportunities for Henderson to establish himself in the rotation were always going to be limited. Through Portland's first four games, he averaged just 18.8 minutes per contest.
Now, there is a legitimate opportunity for Henderson to receive an expanded role.
There is still plenty to figure out with the young guard. His development has not necessarily followed the timeline Portland envisioned when it selected him in the 2023 NBA Draft. Consistency has been an issue, and he needs to become more reliable with his decision-making, shooting and overall execution. But those things are difficult to improve without consistent opportunities on the floor.
Morant's absence should give Henderson more chances to handle the basketball, run the offense and play through some of the mistakes that come with being a young point guard. Rather than simply trying to make an impression in limited minutes, he could have an opportunity to settle into a rhythm and show what he can do with a larger responsibility.
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Of course, Henderson will have to earn those opportunities. Jrue Holiday is another option to absorb Morant's minutes, and Portland isn't going to sacrifice its competitiveness just to give a young player more developmental reps.
Still, this is a situation that could benefit everyone involved if Henderson takes advantage of it. The Trail Blazers didn't want to lose Morant for at least a month, especially after the promising start to his Portland career. However, the franchise still has a young guard whose long-term future could depend on finding consistency and proving he belongs in the rotation.
If Henderson can turn this opportunity into meaningful progress, Morant's injury might at least provide one unexpected positive for Portland.
