Ja Morant is headed to Portland, after the Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies agreed on a trade on Monday.
The move will give the two-time All-Star a chance to revive his career, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press.
In return, AP understands Portland is sending forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies as part of the deal,.
It is a big swing by the Trail Blazers and could suggest Portland – with new owner Tom Dundon, whose Carolina Hurricanes just won the Stanley Cup – might not be done making moves.
Jerami Grant (left) joined the Trail Blazers in 2022 from the Detriot Pistons
Morant adds to a logjam at point guard right now for Portland, with Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson also on the current roster.
The 26-year-old has averaged 22.4 points for his career but has played only 79 games over the last three seasons due to injuries and suspensions, including a 25-match ban after Morant was seen on a livestream holding a gun while he was in the passenger seat of a vehicle.
That came not long after an eight-game suspension for flashing a gun in a Denver-area nightclub, also captured on social media.
Kris Murray joined the Trail Blazers in the 2023 NBA draft
Morant appeared to be on a path toward superstardom after he was drafted as the No 2 selection in the 2019 draft, before he was crowned the Rookie of the Year in 2020 as well as the league’s Most Improved Player in 2021-22.
The suspensions, combined, cost Morant about $9m in lost salary. He said in April 2025 that he’s made his peace with being a lightning rod for constant criticism.
“I’m kind of used to it,” Morant said at that time. “I was pretty much a villain for two years now.
“Every little thing, if somebody can say something negative about me, it’s going to be out there. So, yeah. I don’t care no more.”
Morant was drafted to the Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA draft
Grant averaged 18.6 points last season for Portland and will be joining his sixth team by going to Memphis. Murray averaged 5.8 points per game this past season for the Trail Blazers.
Morant’s MIP-award year in 2021-22 saw Memphis win 56 games, tying a franchise record.
That team was built around a young core four – Morant, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.
And now, they’re all gone. Brooks played only one more season with the Grizzlies after that and has changed teams twice since Bane went to Orlando last summer and Jackson was traded to Utah in February.
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