The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to trade two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, a team source who was not permitted to speak publicly on the trade because it’s not official, said to The Athletic on Monday. This marks the end of a roller-coaster seven-year tenure that included some of the most successful seasons in franchise history, a stretch of injuries, off-court drama and growing bad blood behind the scenes.
In exchange for Morant, the Grizzlies will receive forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. ESPN first reported the deal.
At one point, Morant was viewed as one of the NBA’s next superstars who could help the Grizzlies reach heights that they’ve never achieved. Now, his exit marks the final chapter of a complete rebuild in Memphis that comes only a few years after the team’s initial ascension.
The Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs this past season, finishing with a dismal 25-57 record. After losing in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, Memphis traded guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in the offseason, then dealt former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz just before the NBA trade deadline. Trading Morant officially marks the end of this era.
Last February, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman dismissed the possibility of trading Morant, saying he was “not going to give this nonsense further oxygen” and calling the notion “fantasy.” Since then, Morant’s value has plummeted following a late-season collapse that cost former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, who has the most victories in franchise history, his job.
In previous years, the thought of trading Morant would’ve been laughable. Morant’s frigid relationship with the organization returned to the forefront early in the year after the franchise began projecting its interest in listening to trade offers for its star point guard. He had received a one-game suspension earlier this past season after openly clashing with head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
The tension within the team became even more obvious during the Grizzlies’ overseas trip to play games in Berlin and London. During an open practice, reporters captured a heated discussion between Morant, who was out with a calf injury, and Grizzlies guard Vince Williams that went viral.
Just a shootaround here in Berlin, and there is some heat already
Ja Morant vs Vince Williams#Grizzlies #NBAEurope #Memphis #Orlando #Morant pic.twitter.com/cO7YCx4mXg
— Vitalii Volochai #StandWithUkraine (@v1lat) January 14, 2026
After returning and starring in the second of those two games in London, Morant said he preferred to stay with the franchise.
“If anybody in here knows me, I’m a very loyal guy,” he said. “I got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be.”
By then, however, the patience among many within the organization regarding Morant’s on-court availability and off-court controversies had worn thin.
Morant, 26, made 20 appearances this past season, averaging just over 28 minutes per game, and hasn’t played more than six consecutive games since the 2022-23 season. Along with the litany of injuries that have kept him off the court, Morant also missed 33 games across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons for repeatedly flashing a gun on social media.
On the court, Morant’s explosiveness has declined in recent years, as injuries have piled up. He averaged 19.5 points per game this past season, his third-lowest scoring average since his first two seasons as a pro. He’s also shot 41 percent from the field, the lowest of his career, and 23.5 percent from the 3-point line. But when Morant is playing well, he’s still capable of being one of the most dynamic playmakers at the point guard position.
Morant exits Memphis as a two-time All-Star, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year and the 2021-22 Most Improved Player award winner. He led the Grizzlies to three straight playoff appearances from 2021-23, and in his first 19 playoff appearances, he averaged a stunning 27.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists.
After those successful seasons, the Grizzlies never quite reached those heights again, and Morant’s lack of availability and issues away from the court played a massive role in the team’s demise.