The Portland Trail Blazers have landed a two-time All-Star without giving up a single first-round pick. Portland is acquiring Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The return is striking for its lack of draft capital. Memphis receives no first-round picks in the deal, a paltry haul for a former No. 2 overall pick and Rookie of the Year, though it reflects how far Morant’s value had fallen amid injuries and off-court issues. The Grizzlies had aggressively shopped him before last season’s deadline and found minimal interest.
For Portland, it is a bold swing on upside. Morant has two years and roughly $82MM remaining on his rookie extension, and he is coming off a season limited to 20 games in which his production dipped to 19.5 points on career-low shooting. When healthy, he has averaged over 25 points per game across three seasons and remains one of the league’s most electric guards at just 26.
The fit raises questions. NBA TV’s Chris Haynes reported the Blazers plan to start Morant alongside Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija, but the backcourt is already crowded with Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe. Some observers, including Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor, view the move as a possible setup for a larger trade, though Portland has reportedly stepped back from pursuing Jaylen Brown.
Memphis, meanwhile, fully commits to a rebuild. Having already dealt Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies now turn to a new era headlined by Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft. Grant gives them a veteran scorer to mentor that young core.
