Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant to Portland Trail Blazers

The Memphis Grizzlies dealt the two-time NBA All-Star to the Trail Blazers on June 29, 2026, as part of a roster teardown.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Basketball

Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant to Portland Trail Blazers

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On June 29, 2026, the Memphis Grizzlies completed a trade sending two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers. The move came as the Grizzlies initiated a full teardown of their roster following a 25-57 finish to the 2025-26 season.

Why it matters

The Portland Trail Blazers targeted Morant to bolster their backcourt, while the Grizzlies sought to pivot toward a major roster rebuild. Morant remains under contract through the 2027-28 season, marking a significant change for both franchises.

Ja Morant enters his tenure with Portland carrying a career scoring average of 22.4 points per game across 330 regular-season appearances. His current contract, signed in July 2022, is valued at $197,230,450.

The players

Ja Morant

He is a two-time NBA All-Star who averaged 22.4 points per game during his time in Memphis.

Memphis Grizzlies

The professional basketball organization finished the 2025-26 season with a 25-57 record before initiating a roster teardown.

Portland Trail Blazers

The franchise acquired the star guard to reinforce their backcourt options.

Jerami Grant

He moved to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the package for Morant.

Kris Murray

He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal involving Ja Morant.

The details

As part of the transaction, the Memphis Grizzlies received Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in exchange for Morant. Following the move, Morant sold his home in Eads, Tennessee, for $3.23 million in August 2026.

2019: Ja Morant is drafted and signs his initial rookie contract.
July 2022: Morant signs a five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies.
June 29, 2026: The Grizzlies trade Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers.
August 2026: Morant sells his residence in Eads, Tennessee.
2028: Ja Morant is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

Season Trajectory

This move marks a definitive shift in the competitive balance for both franchises, with Portland aiming for immediate improvement while Memphis commits to a long-term rebuild. It fundamentally alters the playoff outlook for the Western Conference as Portland integrates a high-scoring guard.

Morant will account for 25.56% of the league salary cap during the 2026-27 season while earning a base salary of $42,166,510. He remains eligible to negotiate a potential three-year, $178 million contract extension before his free agency in 2028.

The takeaway

The acquisition of a two-time All-Star provides the Trail Blazers with significant backcourt firepower through the 2027-28 season. Fans should monitor Morant's integration into the new system as he moves toward unrestricted free agency in 2028.