is headed to Portland, after the Trail Blazers and Memphis completed a trade Monday night that sees the Grizzlies starting anew and gives the two-time All-Star a chance to revive his career.
Portland sent forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the as part of the deal.
It鈥檚 a big swing by the Trail Blazers and could suggest Portland 鈥� with new owner Tom Dundon, whose Carolina Hurricanes just won the Stanley Cup 鈥� might not be done making moves. Morant adds to a logjam at point guard right now for Portland, with Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson also on the current roster.
Morant has averaged 22.4 points for his career but has played only 79 games over the last three seasons because of injuries and suspensions 鈥� including a after he was seen on a livestream holding a gun while he was in the passenger seat of a vehicle. That came not long after an in a Denver-area nightclub, also captured on social media.
The suspensions, combined, cost Morant 鈥� who was after being the No. 2 selection in the 2019 draft, as well as the league’s in 2021-22 when he appeared to be on a path toward superstardom 鈥� about $9 million in lost salary. He said in April 2025 that he’s made his peace with being a lightning rod for constant criticism.
鈥淚鈥檓 kind of used to it,鈥� Morant said at that time. 鈥淚 was pretty much a villain for two years now. Every little thing, if somebody can say something negative about me, it鈥檚 going to be out there. So, yeah. I don鈥檛 care no more.鈥�
Grant averaged 18.6 points last season for Portland and will be joining his sixth team by going to Memphis. Murray averaged 5.8 points this past season for the Trail Blazers.
Morant’s MIP-award year in 2021-22 saw Memphis win 56 games, tying a franchise record. That team was built around a young core four of Morant, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.
And now, they’re all gone. Brooks played only one more season with the Grizzlies after that and has changed teams twice since, and in February.
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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.
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