The Portland Trail Blazers have made a blockbuster trade, sending forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Ja Morant. Shams Charania of ESPN broke the news.
Morant, a 26-year-old point guard, is known as a high-scorer and high-flyer. He holds career averages of 22.4 points per game, 7.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds. In his last season with the Grizzlies he averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per game.
Though Morant’s dunk highlight reel is
impressive, he’s not known as a three-point shooter, an area of weakness in Portland’s attack. Morant averaged 23.5% beyond the arc last season against a career average of 31.1%.
Also of concern: Morant has had to work his way through legal issues, team suspensions, and league suspensions during his seven-year career. Last season he was suspended by the Grizzlies for conduct detrimental to the team after clashing with coaches and teammates. Unrest and injuries kept him off the floor for the entire second half of the 2025-26 season. He logged only 20 games total.
Grant played 57 games for the Blazers last season, averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Murray appeared in 57 games as well, averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Morant is signed for the next two seasons with salaries of $42 and $45 million.
