Damian Lillard says Blazers’ crowded backcourt can work

The Trail Blazers have Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday in the same backcourt. Lillard isn’t worried about how they’ll divide the ball or the minutes.

“If we are just doing the right thing, playing the right way … I think the balance will work itself out,” Lillard said Monday at media day, via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Lillard sounded especially comfortable with Morant, whom Portland acquired from the Grizzlies this summer.

“If I get the ball and I’m advancing the ball ahead to Ja Morant, I feel pretty good about it,” he said. “And for both of those guys, if they are attacking the rim, attacking the paint and they’re kicking the ball out to me for a 3-pointer, I think they should feel great about that.”

Lillard missed all of last season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He said he has been fully recovered for months and no longer thinks about the injury when he plays.

“I don’t have any restrictions,” he said. “I’m able to play free.”

That doesn’t mean he expects to carry his old workload. Lillard, 35, said Portland has enough guards that he shouldn’t need to play 35 minutes a night. Coach Micah Nori and general manager Joe Cronin also suggested Holiday could spend some time on the wing.

Morant called the trade a needed fresh start after a difficult end to his time in Memphis.

“I feel a lot better and just ready to hoop, honestly,” he said. “But now I get to start over.”