The Memphis Grizzlies ended an important chapter in their franchise's history this week by sending guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Memphis Grizzlies ended an important chapter in their franchise's history this week by sending guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The trade marks the end of an era for Morant and the Grizzlies, but it appears that the 26-year-old is excited to get started with the Blazers.
The Athletic shared some fascinating details of a lunch that Morant had with Portland head coach Micah Nori on Tuesday. Morant left a very strong impression on Nori, and as they left the restaurant, Nori asked the newcomer how he could help him.
Blazers fans will love Morant's response.
“He just said, ‘Make sure I get some Trail Blazers gear as soon as possible so I can start wearing it,’ ” Nori said.
During the lunch, Morant also said he couldn't wait to play for the Blazers and that the team was going to get the best version of him.
Nori revealed that he left the lunch feeling confident in who Morant is as a person and teammate. He also shared that during his lunch with Morant, the two-time All-Star said he lost his love for the game when the Grizzlies went from playoff contenders to bottom-feeders.
Morant appears to feel rejuvenated now that he'll have a chance to join a team that is on the rise. The Blazers made the playoffs this past season and will now be adding Morant in addition a healthy Damian Lillard.
It's no secret that Morant battled some off-the-court controversy during his Grizzlies tenure, but he did a nice job of keeping basketball the main thing over his final few seasons with the squad. Unfortunately, his production wasn't always there.
After earning back-to-back All-Star selections in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, he appeared in just 79 games in his final three seasons with the team. He averaged 22.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.6 assists per contest during that span on iffy efficiency.
A change of scenery may be just what he needs to turn the page on the negative parts of his Grizzlies stint. Nori seems to have a lot of belief in him, an encouraging sign for all parties. Nori himself is also entering his first year with the Blazers organization.
There is still a long way to go before the season arrives, but if Morant is already anxious to get some Blazers gear on, that's a good sign when it comes to his level of commitment for his new team.
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