BREAKING: Ja Morant Traded to Portland Trailblazers

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The busy NBA offseason continues as another star has been traded ahead of free agency. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Reported by Shams Charania, the trade goes as follows:

Portland Trailblazers Receive:

Ja Morant

Memphis Grizzlies Receive:

Jerami Grant
Kris Murray

Morant’s tumultuous tenure with Memphis comes to an end after seven seasons with the Grizzlies. Drafted by Memphis with the number two pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Morant would burst onto the scene, winning the 2019-2020 Rookie of the Year. He would lead the Grizzlies to the playoffs four out of his six seasons with the team, going to the second round in the 2022 playoffs. He would win Most Improved Player of the Year in the same season. Things would notably head south in the following years, as Morant would serve several suspensions for off-court issues and would miss significant time with multiple injuries.

This past season, Morant would come to verbal blows with head coach Tuomas Iisalo, who took over for Taylor Jenkins at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Grizzlies, already headed towards a quiet rebuild, would trade franchise big man Jaren Jackson Jr. ahead of the deadline, but would not be able to move Morant at the time. He would only play 20 games for Memphis this season, averaging 19.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 3.3 RPG. With the Grizzlies landing the third pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and landing Cameron Boozer, it was clear Memphis could move on from Morant as they looked to enter their rebuild.

Morant would be linked to several teams, including Milwaukee, Miami, Sacramento, New Orleans, and more, but no team would bite on Morant, as his career has been on the downturn the last few seasons, and he is set to make over $40 million a year for the next two seasons. Ja finishes his time in Memphis top 10 in field goals, three-pointers, free throws, assists, steals, points, and triple-doubles.

Now joining the Portland Trailblazers, Morant joins a young team that’s on the rise, with a chance to rehab his value and game. For Portland, they have been linked to several stars this offseason, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, and would even be seen as a frontrunner for Jaylen Brown. Ja joins a core including Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and notable veterans including Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. Portland would make the playoffs last season, taking a game off the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs.