Grizzlies trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray

Grizzlies trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray

The Memphis Grizzlies officially ended the Ja Morant era on June 29, trading the two-time All-Star to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and guard Kris Murray. The move, first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, comes just 24 hours before the start of NBA free agency.

The trade represents the final step in a comprehensive roster teardown for Memphis. The Grizzlies previously traded guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. To the Utah Jazz. With Morant now gone, Memphis is committing to a rebuild centered around No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, and Zach Edey.

For Portland, the acquisition of the 26-year-old Morant is viewed by some analysts as a "buy-low" opportunity. Morant has struggled with availability, playing only 79 games over the last three seasons. This past year, he appeared in only 20 games due to ankle and calf injuries, eventually being shut down in March after suffering a sprained ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow.

A Crowded Backcourt in Portland

The destination has surprised many NBA observers. Yahoo Sports' Kevin O’Connor described Portland as "about as random as it gets" for Morant. The Blazers already possess a deep rotation of guards, including Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe.

Despite the crowded roster, Prime Video insider Chris Haynes reports that Portland intends to start Morant alongside Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija. While some, such as columnist Bill Oram, have criticized the fit as "clunky," others see potential. Writer Esfandiar Baraheni noted that Morant would instantly be the team's best passer if he returns to his previous driving style.

Speculation is already mounting that this move may be a precursor to a larger deal. O’Connor suggested the Morant trade could be a "set-up" to acquire Jaylen Brown from Boston, potentially by packaging Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe with draft picks. CBS Sports' Sam Quinn echoed this sentiment, questioning if the move precludes a Brown trade.

The Decline and Departure in Memphis

Morant's tenure in Memphis was marked by early brilliance—including Rookie of the Year honors in 2019-20 and Most Improved Player in 2021-22—but it eventually devolved into a series of controversies and injuries. Over the last three years, Morant served three separate suspensions, including an eight-game ban in March 2023 and a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 campaign after brandishing a firearm in public. Most recently, he served a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team following a clash with head coach Tuomas Iisalo.

On-court production also dipped. This past season, Morant averaged 19.5 points and a career-low 3.3 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per game. His field goal percentage fell to a career-low 41%, with 3-point shooting at 23.5% to 24%. Internal tensions grew evident during an overseas trip to Berlin and London, where a viral video captured a heated discussion between Morant and guard Vince Williams.

The trade follows a period where Morant's market value dwindled. According to reports, by the time the NBA draft arrived, some teams had ruled out interest and others demanded draft capital to be paired with the player. Ultimately, the Grizzlies accepted a deal featuring no draft picks.

Personnel and Financial Shifts

The trade reshuffles the financial and depth charts for both franchises:

• Jerami Grant: The 32-year-old forward averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season. He is in the fourth year of a five-year, $160 million contract signed in 2022 (some sources say 2023), with two years remaining. His contract includes a player option for the 2027-28 season valued at $36.4 million.
• Kris Murray: The 6-8 forward and twin brother of Sacramento's Keegan Murray averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal, earning roughly $5 million to $5.3 million. He is expected to be a restricted free agent next summer, though some reports suggest he will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-2027 season.
• Ja Morant: Morant enters Portland with two years and nearly $82 million remaining on his extension. He is slated to earn $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28.

Memphis now carries 19 players on standard contracts, exceeding the seasonal limit of 15, necessitating further roster moves before the season begins. Portland, meanwhile, enters a new era under head coach Micah Nori, who was hired to replace interim coach Tiago Splitter after the departure of Chauncey Billups.