Ja Morant and his time in Memphis are officially over. The Grizzlies traded the two-time All-Star to the Portland Trail Blazers for veteran forward Jerami Grant and former first-round pick Chris Murray, bringing an end to one of the most important eras in franchise history.
The move marks a complete reset for Memphis. Since being eliminated in the first round of the 2025 playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the organization has now parted ways with three of its former franchise mainstays: Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Shortly after the trade became official, the team acknowledged Morant’s impact.
“12, thank you for every highlight, every memory, every unforgettable moment and all you have done for this team, this community and this city,” the Grizzlies wrote on social media.
Morant left Memphis as one of the most exciting players in franchise history, but his final three seasons were as marred by injuries and suspensions as his performance on the court. The 26-year-old has appeared in just 79 games since earning his second consecutive All-Star selection in 2023.
League discipline plays a big role in these absences.
Morant was suspended for eight games in 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league and then suspended for 25 games at the start of the 2023-24 season after several incidents involving firearms on Instagram Live. He also missed significant time with shoulder and elbow injuries that ultimately required surgery.
His production also declined last season. Morant averaged 19.5 points per game in just 20 games, shooting only 41.0% from the field and a career-low 23.5% from three-point range.
For the Trail Blazers, the trade was a gamble on a player who still has career averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists. The Trail Blazers are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2021 and now add Morant to a roster that already includes Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Scott Henderson, Shaden Sharp and breakout forward Deni Avdija.
Meanwhile, Memphis turns its attention to a new chapter. The Grizzlies selected Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and are now starting to build around a completely different core after the Morant era ends.
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