Grizzlies reportedly trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
· Yahoo Sports
The Ja Morant era in Memphis is over.
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The Grizzlies struck a deal to send their former star guard to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In return, the Grizzlies will get forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
The Grizzlies first selected Morant with the No. 2 overall pick in 2019 out of Murray State, and he initially shined with the franchise. He earned Rookie of the Year honors that first season while putting up 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game.
But in recent years, the two-time All-Star has struggled to remain on the court — both due to injuries and non-basketball issues. Morant played in only 20 games last season due to both calf and ankle injuries. He served a one-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team,” too. He averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and a career-low 3.3 assists per game last season.
That was just the latest incident he’s faced. He was hit with a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 campaign after an incident in which he brandished a gun, which came after an eight-game suspension for a similar incident just months prior. There were several other alleged incidents, including some in which police were involved, and one where he allegedly punched a 17-year-old in the head and threatened him with a gun during a pickup game.
Morant will now get to join a Trail Blazers franchise that went 42-40 and made the playoffs last season despite head coach Chauncey Billups’ arrest and departure last fall. Tiao Splitter led them in the interim, and the franchise has since hired Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori to replace him. While it’s been a rough stretch for him, Morant will get the chance for a true reset.
This story will be updated with more information shortly.