Ja Morant Trade Hyped by NBA Fans as a 'Steal' for the Blazers After Grizzlies Deal Star

The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly added more star power to their backcourt Monday.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Portland acquired Ja Morant via trade from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Portland plans on starting Morant and Damian Lillard in the backcourt alongside Deni Avdija on the wing following "a very unconventional move that the franchise believes has upside."

While Morant is three seasons removed from his last All-Star selection, he is still a headline player who generated plenty of reaction from social media:

Perhaps this can give Morant, who entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft, a fresh start after injuries and suspensions limited him to nine games in 2023-24, 50 games in 2024-25 and 20 games in 2025-26.

There was a time when he was one of the most electrifying guards in the league and the face of the franchise in Memphis.

He took home the Rookie of the Year in his first season and finished in the top 12 in MVP voting in his third and fourth campaigns. He was also an All-NBA Second-Team selection in 2021-22 when he averaged 27.4 points per game and led the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs.

Portland has plenty of talent after reaching the playoffs last season and a veteran leader in Lillard who is set to return during the upcoming campaign after missing time with an Achilles injury.

Adding Morant is a high-risk and high-reward move given his recent struggles to stay on the court, but it is one that could elevate the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference if it works out as hoped.