The Memphis Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, a move that signals the end of an era for the franchise while offering the two time All-Star a fresh start in a new city. In return, Memphis received Jerami Grant and Kris Murray from Portland, completing a deal that closes out one of the more dramatic chapters in recent Grizzlies history.
The end of Memphis’s former core
With this trade, the Grizzlies have now moved on from all three players once viewed as the foundation of the franchise, Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. The breakup of that trio comes after the team was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. Despite being considered one of the league’s most talented young groups at one point, the Grizzlies managed only a single playoff series win across four postseason appearances with that core intact.
A new direction for the franchise
Memphis now turns its attention toward a new chapter built around Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The trade represents a clear pivot for the organization as it looks to rebuild around younger talent rather than continuing to invest in the group that fell short of expectations in the postseason.
Morant’s rocky recent seasons
Morant, 26, has appeared in just 79 games over the past three seasons due to a mix of injuries and off court issues, a steep decline following his second consecutive All-Star selection in 2023. His tenure in Memphis included two separate suspensions tied to incidents involving a firearm shown during an Instagram livestream, one lasting eight games and another stretching across 25 games to begin the 2023-24 season. He was also suspended for one game in November after a heated confrontation with head coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Health struggles compounded the issues
Beyond the suspensions, Morant has also battled a series of injuries over the past several years, including shoulder and elbow issues that ultimately required season ending surgeries. His production suffered as a result, dropping to 19.5 points per game last season while shooting career lows of 41.0 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from beyond the arc across 20 games before he was sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
Limited trade interest before this deal
Memphis reportedly explored trading Morant aggressively ahead of last season’s trade deadline but found little interest from other teams at the time. He was injured before that deadline passed and did not return to action for the rest of the season, a stretch that ultimately set the stage for Monday’s trade once the offseason arrived.
What Morant brings to Portland
Morant joins a Portland roster fresh off its first playoff appearance since 2021, headlined by breakout forward Deni Avdija. However, the Trail Blazers backcourt is already fairly crowded, featuring veterans Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, who recently returned to the franchise on a three year deal after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks. Guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe further deepen Portland’s options at that position, raising questions about how minutes will be distributed.
The financial details
Morant still has two years and roughly $87 million remaining on his maximum rookie extension. Grant, 32, has one season left on his current contract before a $36 million player option for 2027-28 kicks in, while Murray, 25, is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, adding another layer of long term considerations for both franchises moving forward.
For his career, Morant holds averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game, numbers that once made him one of the league’s most electrifying young stars before recent struggles reshaped his trajectory.
Source: Adapted from reporting by ESPN.