The Memphis Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, sending the two-time All-Star to a new franchise in a deal that completes Memphis’ dismantling of the young core that once represented one of the most promising rosters in the league.
Portland sent forward Jerami Grant and forward Kris Murray to Memphis to complete the transaction. The Grizzlies marked the trade publicly with a tribute acknowledging Morant’s contributions to the team, the community, and the city over the course of his tenure.
The end of an era in Memphis
Morant’s departure means Memphis has now traded all three of the players who once formed the foundation of what was considered one of the NBA’s most talented young rosters, having previously moved on from Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. since being swept in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. Despite the considerable promise of that trio, the Grizzlies won only a single playoff series across four postseason appearances with all three players on the roster together.
Memphis now begins a new chapter built around Cameron Boozer, the third overall selection in this year’s draft, signaling a deliberate shift toward a younger and more cost-controlled foundation after the previous core failed to deliver sustained postseason success.
A turbulent stretch that led to this point
Morant’s final years in Memphis were defined by significant disruption. Since his second consecutive All-Star selection in 2023, he has played in only 79 games across three seasons, a stretch shaped by both injuries and off-court issues that limited his availability and affected his standing within the organization.
Among the disruptions were two league-issued suspensions tied to incidents involving a firearm displayed on a social media livestream, an eight-game ban in 2023 and a 25-game suspension to open the following season. The Grizzlies themselves suspended him for one game in November following a heated confrontation with his head coach after a loss. He also dealt with shoulder and elbow injuries that required season-ending surgeries, further limiting his on-court time.
Memphis explored trading Morant aggressively before last season’s trade deadline but found limited interest from other teams. He was sidelined by injury before the deadline passed and did not return for the remainder of the season, finishing with diminished production and career-low shooting percentages across the 20 games he did play.
What Portland is betting on
For the Trail Blazers, the acquisition represents a significant gamble on a player whose talent has never been in question even as his availability and off-court conduct have created uncertainty. Morant joins a Portland team coming off its first playoff appearance since 2021, led by breakout forward Deni Avdija and featuring a notably crowded backcourt that already includes veteran guards as well as younger players still developing.
Morant has two years and approximately $87 million remaining on his maximum rookie extension, giving Portland a substantial financial commitment to a player they hope can recapture the form that made him one of the league’s most electrifying performers earlier in his career. His career averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game reflect genuine star-level production when healthy and available, and Portland’s bet is that a change of environment and a fresh competitive context can help stabilize both his health and his off-court circumstances.
Grant, 32, has one season remaining on his contract before a player option for 2027-28, while Murray, 25, is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, giving Memphis flexibility as it begins building around its newest young pieces.
