Ja Morant Joins Trail Blazers in Major Trade With Grizzlies

WHO:

Sportskeeda - Ja Morant was traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray on Monday.

NBC Sports - Damian Lillard returned to the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year deal after being waived by the Bucks.

ESPN - Deni Avdija is highlighted as a breakout star for the Portland Trail Blazers.

RealGM Basketball - The Portland Trail Blazers have made Donovan Clingan off limits in trade discussions.

ESPN - Memphis has now traded all three of its former franchise cornerstones -- Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.

ESPN - The new era for Memphis is headlined by Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

RealGM Basketball - The Portland Trail Blazers are under new ownership in Tom Dundon.

RealGM Basketball - Micah Nori has been hired as the first-time head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Sportskeeda - NBA star Ja Morant was traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers.

RealGM Basketball - The Portland Trail Blazers will add Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson to their roster alongside Ja Morant.

WHAT:

ESPN - Memphis has now traded all three of its former franchise cornerstones -- Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. -- since being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.

RealGM Basketball - Morant will join a Portland team that will also add Damian Lillard back from his torn Achilles.

ESPN - Morant's production dipped to 19.5 points while shooting career lows of 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from the 3-point line in the 20 games he played last season.

ESPN - Jerami Grant is signed at $34.2 million for the 2026-27 season and has a player option for the 2027-28 season at $37.2 million.

ESPN - Morant's production dipped to 19.5 points while shooting career lows of 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from the 3-point line in the 20 games he played last season.

ESPN - Morant has career averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists.

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers intend to keep Jrue Holiday after acquiring Ja Morant.

NBC Sports - NBA free agency does not officially open until 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

ESPN - Morant has played only 79 games in three seasons due to off-court issues and injuries since his second consecutive All-Star appearance in 2023.

ESPN - Morant has two years and around $87 million left on his maximum rookie extension.

ESPN - Grant has one more year left on his deal before a $36 million player option for 2027-28.

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers will add Damian Lillard back from his torn Achilles.

RealGM Basketball - The trade involved Ja Morant being acquired by the Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

NY Post - The trade ends a seven-season run for Morant with the Grizzlies, who selected him second overall in the 2019 NBA draft.

RealGM Basketball - Morant is signed for the 2026-27 season for $42.2 million and for 2027-29 at $44.9 million.

RealGM Basketball - Morant signed a five-year, $197 million extension in July 2022.

RealGM Basketball - Morant averaged 19.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 28.4 minutes over 20 games last season.

WHERE:

Sportskeeda - The trade involves the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers.

WHEN:

RealGM Basketball - Morant was suspended for one game in November of the previous season due to a confrontation with coach Tuomas Iisalo.

RealGM Basketball - Jerami Grant is signed at $34.2 million for the 2026-27 season and has a player option for the 2027-28 season at $37.2 million.

WHY:

ESPN - The Grizzlies ended up winning only one series in four playoff appearances with Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the roster.

ESPN - The Grizzlies aggressively explored trading Morant before last season's deadline but found minimal interest.

RealGM Basketball - The Grizzlies had shopped Morant extensively as they look to completely move on from his era after also trading away Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.

HOW:

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers have been active in trade discussions this offseason and are reportedly in talks with the Boston Celtics regarding Jaylen Brown.

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers are not expected to retain Robert Williams III, who has been linked with the Lakers.

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers also believe that Morant, Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday can coexist together.

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers believe that Morant, Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday can coexist together.

ESPN - Morant served an eight-game ban in March 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league and a 25-game suspension to open the 2023-24 season, both stemming from incidents of him displaying a firearm on an Instagram live stream.

RealGM Basketball - The Blazers have been active in trade discussions this offseason and are reportedly in talks with the Boston Celtics regarding Jaylen Brown.

Pro Football Network - NBA analysts believe that the Blazers’ trade for Ja Morant could set up another deal for Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

In a significant move, Ja Morant has been traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. This trade marks the end of an era for Memphis, as they have now dealt all three of their former franchise cornerstones, including Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., following their playoff exit against the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. Morant will be joining a Portland team that is also set to welcome back Damian Lillard, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, while the Blazers remain active in trade talks, reportedly discussing Jaylen Brown with the Boston Celtics.