The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly agreed to send two-time All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
Following the reported deal, another NBA insider pointed to financial motivations as a major reason behind Memphis’ willingness to move its franchise star.
NBA reporter Evan Sidery suggested the Grizzlies had been eager to part ways with Morant as part of a broader rebuilding effort and to gain salary flexibility.
Sidery tweeted on X, “The Grizzlies were desperate to offload Ja Morant as they begin a full-scale rebuild… Memphis ends up trading him to the Trail Blazers simply for matching salary, the exact concept the Hawks did with Trae Young.”
Tha NBA reporter drew parallels between the Grizzlies’ decision to move Ja Morant and the circumstances surrounding Trae Young, suggesting both situations were driven largely by financial considerations.
Portland’s roster decisions may not be finished yet, especially given the logjam in the backcourt. The Trail Blazers now have Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Ja Morant all competing for minutes, creating questions about how the rotation will ultimately take shape.
Another major storyline is how Morant and Lillard would coexist in the same backcourt. Lillard is preparing for a return after sitting out all of last season while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The veteran guard will be 36 when the new campaign begins, and there is uncertainty surrounding his form following such a significant injury.
Morant, meanwhile, remains one of the league’s most dynamic guards, but injuries in recent years have raised concerns about whether he can consistently display the explosiveness and athleticism that made him one of the NBA’s most exciting young stars earlier in his career.
