Ja Morant and his time in Memphis has formally come to an finish. The Grizzlies have traded the two-time All-Star to the Portland Path Blazers in alternate for veteran ahead Jerami Grant and former first-round decide Kris Murray, bringing the curtain down on one of the vital eras in franchise historical past.
The transfer indicators a whole reset in Memphis. Since being eradicated by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the first spherical of the 2025 playoffs, the group has now parted methods with all three of its former franchise pillars: Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.
The workforce acknowledged Morant’s influence shortly after the deal turned official.
“12, thanks for each spotlight, each reminiscence, each unforgettable second and for all you’ve given this workforce, this neighborhood and this metropolis,” the Grizzlies wrote on social media.
Morant leaves Memphis as one of the electrifying gamers in franchise historical past, however his remaining three seasons had been outlined as a lot by accidents and suspensions as his play on the ground. Since making his second straight All-Star look in 2023, the 26-year-old has appeared in simply 79 video games.
League self-discipline performed a significant position in these absences.
Morant served an eight-game suspension in 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league earlier than receiving a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season following separate incidents involving firearms on Instagram Stay. He additionally missed vital time due to shoulder and elbow accidents that ultimately required surgical procedure.
His manufacturing additionally declined final season. Morant averaged 19.5 factors whereas taking pictures profession lows of 41.0 p.c from the sphere and 23.5 p.c from three-point vary throughout simply 20 appearances.
For Portland, the deal represents a raffle on a participant who nonetheless owns profession averages of twenty-two.4 factors and seven.4 assists. The Path Blazers are coming off their first playoff look since 2021 and now add Morant to a roster that already contains Damian Lillard, Jrue Vacation, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and breakout ahead Deni Avdija.
In the meantime, Memphis turns its consideration towards a brand new chapter. The Grizzlies chosen Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 decide within the 2026 NBA Draft and now start constructing round a very totally different core after closing the ebook on the Morant period.
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