Who: The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers. When/Where: The move was announced Monday, sending Morant from Memphis to Portland. What/Result: In exchange the Grizzlies receive forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray as they formally commit to a rebuild, while Morant joins a Blazers roster that reached the 2023-24 playoffs.
Key Takeaways
- Memphis traded Ja Morant to Portland on Monday for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, officially ending Morant’s tenure with the Grizzlies.
- Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in 2019 and 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 assists as a rookie.
- Last season Morant played 20 games, posting 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and a career-low 3.3 rebounds per game while missing time for calf and ankle injuries and serving a one-game team suspension.
- Portland went 42-40 and reached the 2023-24 playoffs despite offseason turmoil; the Blazers plan to integrate Morant alongside Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija.
- Jerami Grant averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season under a five-year contract; Kris Murray averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds and will be a restricted free agent next offseason.
- Memphis has already traded Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane in the past year and selected Cameron Boozer at No. 3 overall, signaling a multi-year rebuild.
Background
Ja Morant arrived in Memphis as the franchise’s transformational pick at No. 2 in the 2019 draft from Murray State. He delivered early, winning Rookie of the Year and producing All-Star seasons that elevated the Grizzlies into consistent postseason contention. Over time, however, off-court incidents and injuries disrupted his availability and the team’s continuity, creating mounting pressure on the franchise to choose a path forward.
Memphis’ front office has been reshaping the roster all season: Jaren Jackson Jr. was sent to Utah in a multi-player swap, and Desmond Bane was traded to Orlando in a deadline deal that netted multiple first-round picks. The team finished 25-57 in the last full season under coach Tuomas Iisalo, then used the No. 3 overall pick to select Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, signaling a pivot toward youth and asset accumulation.
Main Event
The trade was finalized and announced Monday, with Portland acquiring Morant and Memphis receiving Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in return. Portland, which finished 42-40 and reached the playoffs last season, views Morant as a high-upside addition to pair with Damian Lillard and newly acquired or returning perimeter pieces. Reports indicate the Blazers plan to start Morant alongside Lillard and Deni Avdija, creating a high-usage backcourt and playmaking core.
Morant’s recent availability had been limited: he played only 20 games in the previous season because of calf and ankle injuries and served a one-game team suspension for conduct deemed detrimental. He also missed 25 games to open the 2023-24 campaign after a public incident that involved brandishing a firearm; earlier that calendar year he served an eight-game suspension for a related episode. Several other alleged incidents were reported, some involving police, though prosecutors declined to bring charges in at least one alleged encounter involving a minor due to insufficient evidence.
For Memphis, the incoming pieces are immediate veterans and a young wing. Jerami Grant, 32, averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season and is on a five-year deal with a 2027-28 player option. Kris Murray, a 2020 draft pick and the twin brother of Keegan Murray, contributed 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds last season and is expected to be a restricted free agent next offseason. The exchange gives Memphis more salary flexibility and a clearer timeline for a rebuild centered on coach Iisalo and rookie Cameron Boozer.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, Portland is betting that pairing Morant’s dynamic playmaking with Damian Lillard’s scoring and Deni Avdija’s two-way versatility will elevate the franchise back into contention. Morant’s elite shot creation and athleticism offer a different offensive profile than Grant, and Portland’s coaching staff will face a roster construction and role-definition challenge to manage usage and defensive responsibilities.
For Memphis, the trade finalizes a chapter that began with high expectations and peaked in multiple playoff appearances but unraveled amid injuries and off-court controversies. The return of Grant and Murray is less about immediate contention and more about stabilizing the locker room, balancing minutes, and extracting trade or draft value while Boozer develops as a foundational piece.
Economically and roster-wise, the swap alters short- and medium-term payroll dynamics. Morant still has two years and nearly $82 million left on his rookie extension, which Portland inherits, while Grant’s contract and Murray’s restricted status create different timeline and asset-management decisions for Memphis. The deal also affects Portland’s championship window calculation; integrating Morant could accelerate or complicate that timeline depending on health and fit.
Comparison & Data
| Player | 2023-24 or Last Season | Key Averages |
|---|---|---|
| Ja Morant | Memphis | 19.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, 3.3 RPG |
| Jerami Grant | Portland | 18.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG |
| Kris Murray | Portland | 5.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG |
| Cameron Boozer (college) | Duke | 22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG |
The table highlights the production differences: Morant remains an elite playmaker and high-volume scorer when available; Grant offers comparable scoring with different defensive and team-role strengths; Murray is a young wing with limited NBA usage but positional upside. Memphis’s draft capital and Boozer’s rookie potential underline a long-term rebuild rather than an immediate attempt to replace Morant’s playmaking.
Reactions & Quotes
Portland’s reported plan to start Morant with Lillard and Avdija was framed as a bold on-court experiment that maximizes playmaking but raises defensive-matchup questions. Context: the Blazers reached the playoffs at 42-40 despite midseason disruption and are entering a short-term win-now posture.
“We plan to give Portland fans an exciting backcourt capable of creating at every level,”
Chris Haynes, NBA reporter (reported plan)
Memphis leadership characterized the move as a decisive shift to reset the franchise. Context: the Grizzlies have repeatedly retooled over the past year, trading Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, and now emphasize development around Boozer and a younger core.
“This allows us to refocus our timeline and build around our younger core and future assets,”
Team front office statement (summarized)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Portland’s reported intention to start Morant, Lillard and Avdija is finalized or will change during training camp remains unconfirmed.
- Details around some alleged off-court incidents involving Morant vary across reports; some claims have not been independently substantiated.
- Any undisclosed trade protections or future-pick conditions tied to this deal were not publicly detailed at announcement and remain unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
The trade marks a clear pivot for both franchises: Portland is taking a high-upside swing to pair Ja Morant with an established core, while Memphis has signaled a multi-year rebuild focused on youth, accountability and asset accumulation. The on-court fit in Portland and Morant’s health and availability will determine whether the move accelerates the Blazers back toward contention.
For fans and league observers, the deal resolves one of the NBA’s most consequential personnel sagas by moving a mercurial superstar to a new market and giving the Grizzlies measurable pieces and cap flexibility. The coming season will reveal whether Portland’s chemistry gamble pays off and whether Memphis’s longer-term plan yields the desired growth.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — news report and trade announcement