06/29/26 05:07:00
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06/29 17:05 CDT Portland is acquiring 2-time All-Star Ja Morant in a trade with
Memphis, AP source says
Portland is acquiring 2-time All-Star Ja Morant in a trade with Memphis, AP
source says
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
Ja Morant is headed to Portland, after the Trail Blazers and Memphis agreed on
a trade Monday that sees the Grizzlies starting anew and gives the two-time
All-Star a chance to revive his career, a person with knowledge of the
agreement told The Associated Press.
Portland is sending forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies as
part of the deal, said the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity
because the trade has not gotten the required league approvals.
ESPN first reported the agreement.
It's a big swing by the Trail Blazers and could suggest Portland --- with new
owner Tom Dundon, whose Carolina Hurricanes just won the Stanley Cup --- might
not be done making moves. Morant adds to a logjam at point guard right now for
Portland, with Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson also on the
current roster.
Morant has averaged 22.4 points for his career but has played only 79 games
over the last three seasons because of injuries and suspensions --- including a
25-game banishment after he was seen on a livestream holding a gun while he was
in the passenger seat of a vehicle. That came not long after an eight-game
suspension for flashing a gun in a Denver-area nightclub, also captured on
social media.
The suspensions, combined, cost Morant --- who was Rookie of the Year after
being the No. 2 selection in the 2019 draft, as well as the league's Most
Improved Player in 2021-22 when he appeared to be on a path toward superstardom
--- about $9 million in lost salary. He said in April 2025 that he's made his
peace with being a lightning rod for constant criticism.
"I'm kind of used to it," Morant said at that time. "I was pretty much a
villain for two years now. Every little thing, if somebody can say something
negative about me, it's going to be out there. So, yeah. I don't care no more."
Grant averaged 18.6 points last season for Portland and will be joining his
sixth team by going to Memphis. Murray averaged 5.8 points per game this past
season for the Trail Blazers.
Morant's MIP-award year in 2021-22 saw Memphis win 56 games, tying a franchise
record. That team was built around a young core four --- Morant, Dillon Brooks,
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.
And now, they're all gone. Brooks played only one more season with the
Grizzlies after that and has changed teams twice since, Bane went to Orlando
last summer and Jackson was traded to Utah in February.
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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this
report.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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