Ja Morant traded to the Blazers
The point guard ends his time in Memphis and is traded to Portland in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray
Ja Morant is no longer a player for Memphis Grizzlies. The Tennessee franchise has decided to definitively close a chapter that was once expected to lead the future of the organization and has reached an agreement with Portland Trail Blazers to trade the point guard in a move that represents a radical change for both teams.
The exchange will send Morant to Portland, while Memphis receives Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The move confirms the start of a complete rebuild for the Grizzlies, who have dismantled the core that was once considered one of the most promising in the NBA in just over a year.
With this trade, the Trail Blazers add a player who had emerged as one of the league's rising stars.
At 26 years old, Ja Morant moves conferences to join a team that made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2021.
The point guard still has two guaranteed seasons remaining on his rookie max extension, worth approximately $87 million.
In return, Portland is sending Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis.
Grant, 32, has one more year on his contract before a player option valued at $36 million for the 2027-28 season. Murray, on the other hand, will be a restricted free agent next summer.
| Trade Details | |
|---|---|
| Portland receives | Ja Morant |
| Memphis receives | Jerami Grant and Kris Murray |
The Definitive End of the Memphis Project
Morant's departure signifies much more than just a trade.
With this move, the Grizzlies have now traded away the three players who formed the core of the team: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
All three are leaving the franchise after Memphis was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 playoffs' first round.
Despite the high expectations placed on that group for years, the final outcome fell short.
In four playoff appearances with that core, the Grizzlies only managed to advance past one round.
A new era begins now.
The rebuild will be led by Cameron Boozer, selected with the third pick in the 2026 Draft.
The Grizzlies' Farewell Message
The organization publicly thanked Morant after the trade became official.
On their social media platforms, the Grizzlies posted the following message:
"12, thank you for every outstanding moment, every memory, every unforgettable instant, and for everything you have given to this team, this community, and this city."
A New Challenge in Portland
Morant joins a young roster that has regained its competitive edge.
The main figure in the project is Deni Avdija, considered the team's key player after his breakthrough.
However, the arrival of the former Memphis player adds even more competition, especially in a crowded position.
Currently, Portland also has Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, who recently returned to the franchise after signing a three-year contract following his release by the Milwaukee Bucks.
They are joined by Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, expanding the options in the backcourt.
| Portland's Point Guards after the trade |
| Ja Morant |
| Damian Lillard |
| Jrue Holiday |
| Scoot Henderson |
| Shaedon Sharpe |
Three Years Marked by Absences
Morant's performance over the past seasons was influenced by various issues.
Since his second consecutive All-Star appearance in 2023, the point guard has only been able to play in 79 games.
Injuries and NBA-imposed penalties significantly limited his playing time.
In March 2023, he was suspended for eight games for conduct detrimental to the league.
He later received a 25-game suspension at the start of the 2023-24 season.
Both decisions were related to live Instagram broadcasts where he appeared with a firearm.
Additionally, the Grizzlies themselves suspended him for one game in November after a heated argument with coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Various physical issues were added to these challenges.
During this period, he suffered shoulder and elbow injuries that required surgical interventions, prematurely ending several of his seasons.
Falling Short of His Best Performance
Before the trade was finalized, Memphis had already explored different options to move Morant before the previous season's trade deadline.
However, they received very limited interest.
An injury before the deadline also halted any possible deal and kept him out for the rest of the season.
In the 20 games he played, he recorded the lowest shooting percentages of his career: 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three, with an average of 19.5 points per game.
Despite this recent decline in his performance, Morant leaves Memphis with career averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game.
Two Franchises with Different Goals
The trade signals very different paths for both teams.
Memphis is betting on a complete rebuild around Cameron Boozer after ending the project led by Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Portland, on the other hand, brings in a two-time All-Star in hopes that he can regain his form and become a key piece within a young group aiming for the top spots in the Western Conference.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ja Morant, traspasado a los Blazers
