For the first time in his NBA career, Ja Morant opened a season in a uniform other than the Memphis Grizzlies’. The two-time All-Star started for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, next to Damian Lillard, months after Memphis traded him following three seasons defined by injuries and suspensions. If you have lost track of the former Rookie of the Year, here is what happened to Ja Morant, how he ended up in Portland and what comes next.
What happened to Ja Morant
The Grizzlies traded Morant to Portland on June 29, 2026, for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, The Associated Press reported via NBA.com. No draft picks changed hands, and Memphis also sent the Blazers $1 million in cash, Hoops Rumors reported, citing Jake Fischer. Because the deal was completed before the 2026-27 league year began, Morant’s 15% trade bonus did not apply.
The modest return said a lot about how far Morant’s value had fallen. Hoops Rumors wrote that his contract was not viewed favorably around the league after a series of off-court incidents and injuries to his shoulder, ankle, calf and elbow. He played only 79 games across the previous three seasons, including just 20 in 2025-26.
In Portland he is getting a fresh start. New head coach Micah Nori put Morant and Lillard in the starting lineup for the season opener against the Phoenix Suns, alongside Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan, CBS Sports reported. “(The lineup) gives you a facilitator in Ja that’s looking to push pace and use him as a secondary scorer,” Nori said.
The debut started fast. Portland scored the game’s first 21 points, outscored Phoenix 43-12 in the first quarter and went on to a 124-83 season-opening rout, leading by as many as 52 points, according to the Associated Press. Morant finished with 14 points and eight assists, per the AP recap on ESPN, while Damian Lillard led Portland with 25 points. Through three quarters, Morant shot 6 of 8, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range, with five rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes, per the NBA’s official scorer’s report; coach Micah Nori pulled the starters early in the fourth quarter.
How Morant’s time in Memphis unraveled
Morant was the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft and quickly became one of the league’s most exciting players. He won Rookie of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved Player in 2022, when Memphis won 56 games, according to the AP.
The trouble started in 2023. He was suspended twice that year for incidents involving guns, costing him 33 games and about $8.3 million in salary, the AP reported. The first was an eight-game ban after he displayed a firearm on a livestream from a Denver-area nightclub. The second, a 25-game ban, came after he was seen with a firearm in another livestreamed video. He was later fined $75,000 for a gun-like celebration gesture after making 3-pointers.
The 2025-26 season was his most difficult. In November 2025, the Grizzlies suspended him for one game for conduct detrimental to the team after a 117-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, in which he scored eight points. After that game, most of his answers to reporters were some form of “Go ask the coaching staff,” the AP reported.
Injuries then took over. He missed time with calf problems before spraining the UCL in his left elbow in late January. On March 24, 2026, Memphis ruled him out for the rest of the season and said he would receive a platelet-rich plasma injection, according to the AP. He averaged 19.5 points, his lowest since his second season, and shot a career-low 41% from the field, Sporting News reported.
Timeline
- June 2019: Memphis selects Morant No. 2 overall, behind Zion Williamson.
- 2020: He is named NBA Rookie of the Year.
- 2022: He wins Most Improved Player as Memphis ties a franchise record with 56 wins.
- 2023: Two league suspensions tied to gun videos cost him 33 games.
- Nov. 1, 2025: The Grizzlies suspend him one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
- Late January 2026: He sprains the UCL in his left elbow.
- March 24, 2026: Memphis shuts him down for the season after 20 games.
- June 29, 2026: Memphis trades him to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
- Oct. 21, 2026: He starts his first regular-season game for the Trail Blazers, against Phoenix.
Why it matters
For Memphis, the trade ended an era. The Grizzlies had already moved Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., and moving Morant fully committed the franchise to a younger core that includes rookie Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, Sporting News reported.
For Portland, it was a calculated gamble. The Blazers already had Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in the backcourt, and they took on Morant’s salary without giving up draft picks. Chris Haynes reported that the team envisioned a Lillard-Morant backcourt with Avdija on the wing, describing it as an unconventional move the franchise believes has upside, according to Blazer’s Edge.
For Morant, it is a chance to reset his reputation. He is still only 27, and the AP described the trade as giving him a chance to revive his career.
What’s next
The biggest question is health. Morant has never played more than 67 games in a season, and staying on the court will matter more than any single stat line. The fit with Lillard is the other storyline to watch, since both have spent their careers as lead ball-handlers. Lillard has sounded optimistic. “If I get the ball and I’m advancing the ball ahead to Ja Morant, I feel pretty good about it,” he told reporters earlier this month, CBS Sports reported.
His contract adds another layer. Morant carries a $42.2 million cap hit this season and $44.9 million in 2027-28, the final year of his five-year, $197 million extension, before he can become a free agent in 2028, Sporting News reported. A healthy, productive season in Portland could restore his value ahead of that next deal.
FAQ
Why did the Grizzlies trade Ja Morant?
Memphis moved on after years of injuries, suspensions and declining production, and committed to a younger core. It received Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in return.
What team is Ja Morant on now?
He plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, who acquired him on June 29, 2026.
Why did Ja Morant miss so many games?
He was suspended for 33 games in 2023 over gun-related videos and has dealt with shoulder, ankle, calf and elbow injuries. He played 79 games over the past three seasons.
Is Ja Morant healthy?
A left elbow UCL sprain ended his 2025-26 season, but he was back in the starting lineup for Portland’s season opener on Oct. 21, 2026.
How much is Ja Morant paid?
His cap hit is $42.2 million for 2026-27 and $44.9 million for 2027-28.