Ja Morant trade update: Grizzlies deal star to Blazers
Ja Morant appears done in Memphis. League sources told Yahoo Sports they expect a Ja Morant trade this week, and The Commercial Appeal reported on June 29 that the Grizzlies sent the two-time All-Star to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, per ESPN. Miami's pre-Giannis interest is largely off the table.
Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report framed the shift around Miami's blockbuster acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Before that deal, the Heat had been linked to Morant. After it, at least one major suitor looks out of the running.
Key Takeaways
- League sources expect Ja Morant to be traded this week, with limited buyout buzz.
- Miami had Morant interest before the Giannis deal; that path now looks unlikely.
- Memphis reportedly traded Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray on June 29.
- The Grizzlies' asking price has dropped from draft capital toward player-for-player swaps.
- Injury history and salary are still scaring potential trade partners away.
Why did the Miami Heat drop out of the Ja Morant trade race?
According to Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports, sources say the Heat had interest in Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant before the Giannis deal. Bleacher Report noted Miami could have packaged Andrew Wiggins, after he opts in to his $30.1 million player option, and Davion Mitchell to make the salary math work.
But the Heat have passed on Morant trades before, and adding Giannis changes their roster calculus. A buyout might have made sense, or a Morant trade if the Giannis pursuit failed. With Giannis now in Miami, that ship has sailed.
What are league insiders saying about the morant trade timeline?
HoopsHype cited the same Yahoo Sports report on June 28: there is not much expectation that Morant will get bought out. Instead, league sources expect him to be traded this week. Bleacher Report echoed that timeline on June 29, writing that Morant's time in Memphis is finally coming to a close.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst said during draft coverage that the Grizzlies will really try to trade him and fans have probably seen Morant's last moments in a Memphis uniform. The franchise is resetting around No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, but Windhorst added they have had difficulty finding a trading partner.
Why has Memphis struggled to move Ja Morant?
ESPN's Vincent Goodwill reported that Morant's injury history and sizable salary are scaring teams away. The Commercial Appeal noted his asking price has dropped considerably since the June 23 draft, from draft capital to pick swaps and now player-for-player deals. Teams have reportedly asked Memphis to attach draft sweeteners just to take Morant on.
Free agency opens June 30 at 5 p.m. CT, with trades and deals able to be consummated once the league moratorium ends July 6. Memphis also picked up team options for Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($2.5 million) and GG Jackson ($2.4 million) ahead of the deadline.
Where does Ja Morant go from here?
If the Portland report holds, Morant ends a seven-year Grizzlies run that included Rookie of the Year, two All-Star berths and All-NBA second-team honors in 2021-22. Bleacher Report noted his trade value has never been lower, yet a healthy Morant could still make a major impact for a new team.
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