Blazers acquire Ja Morant in 3-player deal with Grizzlies

Ja Morant joined the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, June 29 (Tuesday, June 30, Manila time), in a trade that ended his volatile run with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Trail Blazers acquired the two-time All-Star in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

The Blazers also were rumored to be in discussions to deal for Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown, but it was unclear if the Morant move would end those talks.

Morant is signed for two more seasons with salaries of $42.17 million (2026-27) and $44.89 million (2027-28) before he is eligible to become a free agent in 2028.

Morant, 26, played only 20 games last season and a total of 79 the past three years.

In 327 career games, Morant averaged 22.4 points, 7.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1 steal per game.

He was drafted No. 2 overall in 2019, has missed more than 100 games in his career because of injuries, and was suspended 25 games in 2023 for a gun-related incident.

The Grizzlies finished 25-57 last season and have parted with most of the prime cast from their 51-win season in 2022-23, the second of their back-to-back Southwest Division titles.

Memphis traded three-point specialist Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic before the 2025 NBA Draft and shipped two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz at the trade deadline in February.

Grant, 32, has played for five teams since entering the NBA with the 76ers in 2014. He averaged 18.6 and 3.5 rebounds per game in 57 games for the Blazers last season.

Murray, 25, just completed his third NBA season in Portland. He was the No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 draft and has averaged 5.3 points in 188 career games. – Rappler.com