The Blazers Promised More Shooting. Where is it?

The Portland Trail Blazers entered the summer with a stated mission: improve three-point shooting. Despite the acknowledgment from general manager Joe Cronin that the team lacks the perimeter threats needed to compete at an elite level, the recent roster moves remain at odds with that goal.

The trade for Ja Morant adds a high-level athlete, but he does not provide the floor spacing this roster needs. Last season, the team struggled significantly, finishing tied for third-worst in the league from beyond the arc. Without adding reliable shooters, the offensive system continues to operate in the mud with a crowded paint for primary attackers like Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija.

Losing Jerami Grant, who acted as a primary long-range threat, creates an even larger void. While Damian Lillard brings much-needed scoring gravity, he cannot fix the depth issue on his own. The current bench additions fail to move the needle on perimeter efficiency, leaving the front office with a difficult path to address this deficiency before the season begins.

There is still time for the organization to pursue trade targets like Trey Murphy III, PJ Washington, or Jabari Smith Jr. to balance the roster. However, the current strategy leaves many observers wondering if the stated commitment to shooting will be backed by future action. If the team remains as currently constructed, the offensive limitations from last year will likely persist through the coming campaign.