Ja Morant explained why he needed a fresh start after Memphis traded him to Portland following seven seasons with the Grizzlies.
On Monday, Ja Morant met reporters at Portland Trail Blazers media day. The Memphis Grizzlies traded him there June 29 for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the deal.
Memphis drafted Morant second overall out of Murray State in 2019. He spent seven seasons with the franchise. He left as a two-time All-Star, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, and the 2021-22 Most Improved Player. He holds the franchise records for career scoring average at 22.4 points and for triple-doubles with 12.
Morant Says He Needed Fresh Start in Portland
Morant needed the fresh start in Portland.
"Everything that happened over the years pretty much was just stuck with me; everyone just keeps bringing [those things] up," Morant said. "As long as Memphis was across my chest it was still getting said."
Two gun videos brought league suspensions. The NBA suspended Morant eight games in March 2023 after the first video, filmed at a Colorado nightclub. A second video that May led to a 25-game suspension to open the 2023-24 season. Last November, Memphis suspended him one game after a heated confrontation with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Morant appeared in 20 games in 2025-26. He averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists while shooting 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. A sprained UCL in his left elbow ended his season, and the Grizzlies shut him down March 24.
Memphis finished 25-57 and lost 21 of its final 23 games.
The Grizzlies had been open to dealing Morant since the February deadline. ESPN reported that Memphis explored a trade aggressively before the deadline and found minimal interest.
Trail Blazers Still Believe in Morant
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said the decision came from Portland's view of Morant as still a very high-level player. Morant was 26 at the time of the trade and is 27 going into this season.
"Straight belief in Ja, more than anything," Cronin said. "… We're very confident that Ja has a lot of good years ahead of him."
Cronin said Portland was willing to prioritize talent even with questions about how the backcourt will fit together.
"For us, I'm sure there will be questions around fit, position, all those different things," Cronin continued. "But we're very focused, and will continue to be, on talent and adding to our talent base as much as we can."
Portland went 42-40 last season and reached the playoffs. Morant joins a backcourt that already includes Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson. Shaedon Sharpe is working back from a torn meniscus.
A day after the trade, Morant had lunch with Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori. Nori told The Athletic that Morant said he lost his love for the game when the Grizzlies fell from playoff contender to the bottom of the standings.
Grizzlies Continue Rebuilding Around New Core
Grant, 32, averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds for Portland last season. He has one year left on his contract before a $36 million player option for 2027-28. Murray, 25, averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds and is set to become a restricted free agent next summer. Memphis also received $1 million in cash considerations, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported.
Morant is owed $42.1 million this season and $44 million in 2027-28, the final year of his rookie maximum extension.
Memphis sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in June 2025 for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four future first-round picks. Jaren Jackson Jr. went to the Utah Jazz in February. In June, the Grizzlies used the third overall pick on Cameron Boozer, who said July 2 that he did not know the Morant trade was coming.
Morant Will Face Grizzlies Three Times
The Grizzlies visit Portland on Oct. 29. The Trail Blazers come to FedExForum at 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 6, on Prime Video, and the teams meet again in Memphis on Monday, Feb. 8.
