Memphis Grizzlies let go of Ja Morant on Monday after seven seasons, shipping the controversial point guard to Portland in exchange for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Morant, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and a two-time All-Star, will strengthen the Trail Blazers’ backcourt, currently composed of Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson.
More importantly, it is the latest opportunity for the Murray State standout to revive his career after a series of controversial off-court shenanigans.
From injuries to off-court problems: Ja Morant’s series of issues
Morant played a total of 327 games in seven seasons for the Grizzlies, but he has yet to complete a full regular season due to injuries and off-court issues that led the league to impose multiple suspensions against him.
Last season, the 6-foot-2 guard suited up for only 20 games for Memphis and his season ended abruptly after sustaining an elbow injury.
On March 24, 2026, the club announced Morant was shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
However, it is not only injuries that kept the spitfire player from playing on the court while in Memphis.
In March 2023, the NBA conducted an investigation into a video of Morant displaying a gun at a Colorado nightclub, which led to an eight-game suspension.
When another Instagram video in May showed him displaying a gun, he was issued a 25-game suspension for the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
Combined, the suspensions cost Morant – who was adjudged Rookie of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved Player in 2021-22 – about $9 million in lost salary.
In April 2025, the guard insisted that he had made his peace with being a lightning rod for constant criticism.
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Morant heads to new team, looks to help Trail Blazers make playoffs
The trade could suggest Portland and new owner Tom Dundon might not be done making moves.
The Trail Blazers, under newly-hired head coach Micah Nori, may move one of the guards in the rotation to improve their core.
In seven seasons with Memphis, Morant tallied averages of 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
He shot 46.6% from the field and 77.3% from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, Grant averaged 18.6 points last season for Portland and will be joining his sixth team by going to Memphis.
Murray averaged 5.8 points this past season for the Trail Blazers.
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Grizzlies squad on the move
Morant became the last key player in the Grizzlies’ 2021-22 squad to move to another team.
After playing another year for Memphis, Dillon Brooks moved to Houston and played for two years before transferring to Phoenix.
Desmond Bane was acquired by Orlando last summer and Utah gained Jackson in a trade with Memphis in February.
Portland looks to contend in the Western Conference once again after a 42-40 season that qualified them in the play-in game.
They beat the Phoenix Suns to have a meeting with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs, however, trounced the Trail Blazers in five games in the first round of the playoffs.
Newsjustnews writers 
Lucia Caporalini 
Tyler Lai Sai