The Memphis Grizzlies traded point guard Ja Morant of Dalzell, South Carolina to the Portland Trail Blazers according to nba.com on Monday. In return, the Grizzlies will be receiving power forward Jerami Grant of Portland, Oregon and small forward Kris Murray of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Anyway you look at it, the acquisition of Morant comes with a significant risk. That is because Morant has a history of legal problems and injury issues.
Morant is joining his second NBA franchise. He has played the last seven seasons with the Grizzlies, was the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2022 NBA Most Improved Player. Then in 2022 and 2023, Morant was a NBA All-Star for two consecutive seasons.
In 2025-26. Morant averaged 19.5 points per game, 8.1 assists per game, 3.3 rebounds per game and one steal per game. He had a field goal percentage of .410, three point percentage of .235, and free throw percentage of .895.
Grant is joining his sixth NBA franchise. He played three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2014 to 2016, three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2016 to 2019, one season with the Denver Nuggets from 2019 to 2020, two seasons with the Detroit Pistons from 2020 to 2022, and four seasons with the Trail Blazers from 2022 to 2026.
In 2025-26, Grant averaged 18.6 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game. He has a field goal percentage of .453, three point percentage of .389 and a free throw percentage of .814.