Categories
Ja Morant trade grades: Who won the Grizzlies-Blazers deal?
Ja Morant trade grades: Blazers stuff backcourt as Grizzlies reset franchise
- Ja Morant trade grades: Blazers stuff backcourt as Grizzlies reset franchise
After months on the trading block, Ja Morant is finally on the move.
The Memphis Grizzlies are shipping two-time All-Star guard to the Portland Trail Blazers for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
That ends a seven-year run for Morant in Memphis, a tenure that was marked by stark inconsistencies. After winning the Rookie of the Year award following his debut campaign in 2019-20, Morant flashed moments of basketball brilliance. But repeated off-court issues and injury concerns derailed his final seasons with the Grizzlies.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are grades for all parties in the Ja Morant trade to the Portland Trail Blazers:
What's next? Ja Morant trade from Grizzlies to Blazers sparks reactions and rumors
NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
For the most part, Morant’s market had dried up to the point that simply moving him is a measure of success. This is tough for any team: when it is forced to accept pennies on the dollar for a player who previously had plenty of promise and potential, it's going to be a difficult sell to fans.
But it became clear that Morant was no longer a long-term fit with the franchise. So moving off of the $87.1 million he was due over the next two seasons should be considered a win. Recouping any assets rather than letting him languish for two seasons and walk without anything in return is also a win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGrant brings a veteran presence to an extremely young Grizzlies team that will need some help with ball handling and offensive creation. Grant averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds mostly off the bench in 2025-26. He’s under contract this season and has a $36.4 million player option for 2027-28. Murray is a reserve off the bench and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Honestly, neither player necessarily feels like a long-term piece for Memphis, which is fully rebuilding, and that’s fine. Considering that the objective was to reset the culture and move Morant, this deal got the job done.
Portland Trail Blazers' Ja Morant trade grade
This is where the deal becomes more interesting. And, frankly, given Morant’s issues with availability, it makes it a little trickier to project.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMorant played just 20 games last season – though much of that appeared to be Memphis keeping him sidelined to preserve whatever shards of value Morant still had. In fact, he has played just 79 of a possible 246 games over the last three seasons, or a total of just 32.1% of possible games.
The most games Morant has ever played in a single season has been 67, during his rookie year.
Yet, Morant is still only 26 years old. In theory, he should have plenty of basketball left. If Portland can get Morant to mature and if he's able to find good luck with his health, this could be a solid low-cost move – at least in terms of assets shipped out.
Grant clearly was not a long-term fixture with the Trail Blazers and Murray is easily expendable.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe interesting thing is that now the Trail Blazers suddenly have an abundance of guards – and ones with talent. Morant’s weakness is his shooting. He’s best at getting to the rim, and his perimeter jumpers are shaky, at best. But if Portland starts him alongside sharpshooting point guard Damian Lillard, it could provide a compelling duo of shot creation. Lillard also masks Morant’s spotty jumper.
Morant, however, is a liability on defense, as is Lillard. This only puts even more pressure on centers Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams as rim protectors.
The other part about this is that with Lillard, Morant, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who improved significantly last season as the year wore on, Portland now has players that it could potentially move in a complementary deal – say, one for Jaylen Brown?
If that’s the eventual end game, and the Morant deal facilitates that, then it’s a big win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut if Morant doesn’t mature and is constantly sidelined, this could be another frustrating chapter for teams employing him.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ja Morant trade grades: Blazers stuff backcourt as Grizzlies reset franchise