The Memphis Grizzlies are making another major shake-up, and this one sends Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the two-time NBA All-Star is being dealt for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
The move closes another chapter for a Memphis team that once built around Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Since being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, the Grizzlies have now moved all three of those former cornerstones.
A core that never fully delivered
Memphis won just one playoff series in four postseason appearances with that trio in place. What looked like one of the league’s most promising young cores ultimately fell short of the expectations that came with it.
Morant, 26, has played only 79 games over the last three seasons because of injuries and off-court issues. He made his second straight All-Star team in 2023, but his availability and production have both been affected since then.
| Player | Outgoing Team | Incoming Team | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | Portland Trail Blazers | Two-time NBA All-Star |
| Jerami Grant | Portland Trail Blazers | Memphis Grizzlies | Part of the return for Memphis |
| Kris Murray | Portland Trail Blazers | Memphis Grizzlies | Part of the return for Memphis |
Injuries and suspensions changed the picture
Morant served an eight-game suspension in March 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league, then a 25-game suspension to open the 2023-24 season after incidents involving a firearm on an Instagram Live stream. Last season, the Grizzlies also suspended him for one game after a heated confrontation with coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
His injury history has added to the uncertainty. Over the past three years, Morant has dealt with shoulder and elbow problems that required season-ending surgeries, and he was injured again before last season’s trade deadline.
ESPN reported that Memphis aggressively explored the trade market for Morant before that deadline, but found minimal interest. He did not play again after getting hurt, and his numbers dipped in the 20 games he appeared in last season.
Morant finished last season averaging 19.5 points while shooting career lows of 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. For his career, he has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game.
Morant has two years and $87 million remaining on his contract, giving Portland a high-profile talent with a complicated recent record and Memphis another step in its roster reset. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.
