Ja Morant Traded from Memphis to Portland for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
8 verified6 unconfirmed2 contested
The Memphis Grizzlies have traded point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and forward Kris Murray, according to multiple reports. No draft picks were included in the deal, which ends Morant’s seven-season tenure in Memphis marked by individual success, injuries, and off-court incidents. Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, won Rookie of the Year in 2020 and was named Most Improved Player in 2022, but his production declined in recent years due to injuries and a lack of reliable shooting. The Blazers plan to pair Morant with veteran guard Damian Lillard in the backcourt, though analysts have raised concerns about the defensive fit alongside Lillard and fellow ball-handler Deni Avdija. Memphis is expected to build its future around rookie Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
What’s verified
The Memphis Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
No draft picks were exchanged in the trade.
Morant has two years and approximately $87 million remaining on his contract.
Morant made back-to-back All-Star teams in 2022 and 2023 and was Second-Team All-NBA in 2022.
Morant’s on-court performance declined due to injuries, off-court issues, and reduced scoring efficiency.
The Blazers plan to start Morant alongside Damian Lillard in the backcourt.
Memphis drafted Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick in 2026 and views him as the franchise’s next centerpiece.
Analysts describe the trade for Memphis as “addition by subtraction” in order to move on from Morant’s troubled era.
Where accounts differ
One source graded the trade for the Portland Trail Blazers as a D+, while another graded it as a C+.
No other conflicting reports identified across sources.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported that Morant has a 15% trade kicker in his contract that could increase his salary if not waived.
One source reported that Morant played only 20 games last season and was shut down in January due to an elbow issue.
One source reported that Portland is not seriously pursuing Jaylen Brown in a subsequent trade.
One source listed specific guards on Memphis’s roster after the trade, including Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, and Javon Small.
One source reported that Kris Murray, who was included in the deal, is a 25% career three-point shooter.
It is unclear whether the Blazers will make additional roster moves following the trade.
Key figures
Ja Morant, Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, Cameron Boozer
Sources: CBS Sports, sbnation.com
