Memphis Grizzlies Trade Star Guard Ja Morant to Portland Trail Blazers
Memphis officially tears down its former foundation, sending the two-time All-Star to Portland in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Summary
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading two-time NBA All-Star point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers
In return, Memphis will acquire veteran forward Jerami Grant and second-year wing Kris Murray
The trade officially completes the total dismantle of the Grizzlies' former core of Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to trade two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for veteran forward Jerami Grant and young asset Kris Murray, according to a breaking report from ESPN‘s Shams Charania on Monday. The blockbuster deal signals the absolute end of an era in Memphis, as the front office completely resets its roster identity following an injury-plagued stretch and shifting organizational directions.
With this transaction, the Grizzlies have now traded away all three pieces of what was once considered one of the league’s most promising young foundations: Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Since being swept in the first round of the 2025 postseason by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the front office has aggressively pivoted. Morant’s departure marks a complicated end to a seven-year tenure that included winning Rookie of the Year in 2020 and securing an All-NBA Second Team nod, heavily overshadowed recently by recurring off-court suspensions and consecutive season-ending shoulder and elbow surgeries. The 26-year-old appeared in just 20 games during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists while shooting career lows of 41.0% from the field.
For the Trail Blazers, the addition of Morant injects an undeniable, high-ceiling superstar presence to an increasingly crowded backcourt rotation. Morant still has two years and roughly $87 million remaining on his current contract extension. He brings career averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists to Portland, though analysts are already speculating whether the Blazers intend to deploy him alongside their existing core or utilize him in a secondary transaction to re-balance their guard rotation.
Heading back to Memphis is Jerami Grant, an experienced 32-year-old two-way forward who averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for Portland last season. Grant adds instant frontcourt spacing, reliable veteran scoring, and physical defense to a newly reconfigured Grizzlies team. Memphis also secures 25-year-old forward Kris Murray, a former first-round pick who averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds across 57 appearances during his sophomore NBA season, giving the Grizzlies a young developmental wing to build around.
