Ja Morant's Reaction to Trail Blazers Trade Revealed by HC Micah Nori After Conversation With Star

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori met with new Blazers point guard Ja Morant at a Columbia, South Carolina steakhouse on Tuesday, one day after Portland acquired the two-time All-Star via trade from the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nori, who relayed some moments of that meeting to Jason Quick of The Athletic, revealed that Morant can't wait to play for Portland.

"I think we are going to get the best version of Ja," Nori said, per Quick. "I think we are going to get a motivated Ja."

Morant played seven seasons with the Grizzlies, averaging 22.4 points, 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.

At his best, Morant was an electric and exciting star with tremendous potential on a team on the rise that finished second in the Western Conference standings in 2022 and 2023 (both All-Star seasons for the Murray State star).

Unfortunately, the last three seasons have represented an unfortunate downturn. He played just 79 of a possible 246 games due to various injuries as well as three suspensions that totaled 34 games. Morant was limited to 20 games last season, and his campaign ended due to a UCL sprain in his left elbow.

Now Morant gets a fresh start in Portland, and he seems up for the new chapter, saying to Mori, "You know, some things just happen for a reason" per the coach's recalling of the sitdown meal to Quick.

Nori kept raving about Morant and how optimistic he was about his chances to thrive in Portland.

"The way he was talking, the way he looked … the intent he had, you could just tell in his face that he missed basketball," Nori told Quick. "And he assured that we were going to get the best Ja and that he was going to do all the right things."

Nori also said he was "beyond encouraged" by Morant's remarks. Morant said the most fun he had playing basketball was when Memphis was competing earlier in his tenure and making the playoffs year-after-year.

Now Morant joins a promising Blazer team on the rise that just earned the Western Conference's No. 7 seed despite being without Damian Lillard (recovery from torn Achilles) for the whole season.

Now Lillard will return, and Morant is aboard too on a team with a lot of talent.

"He's excited to be on a team with vets like Dame and Jrue, and he loves the young talent of Deni (Avdija), Scoot, (Donovan) Clingan, (Toumani) Camara … I mean, he mentioned them all by name," Nori told Quick.

The Western Conference looks tough as always, especially with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder leading the way, but it's certainly possible Morant's arrival alongside Lillard's return and Nori's presence after arriving from the Minnesota Timberwolves could lead to a jump up the standings.