The Trail Blazers didn’t acquire Ja Morant without a plan.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Portland already envisions Morant and Damian Lillard sharing the starting backcourt next season, with Deni Avdija rounding out the wing alongside them.
That’s certainly an unconventional pairing.
Morant has spent his career as a primary ball-handler, and so has Lillard. But the Trail Blazers clearly believe the talent outweighs any concerns about fit, while also giving Morant the fresh start many around the league believed he needed.
The blockbuster deal, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, sends Morant to Portland in exchange for veteran forward Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
League observers will undoubtedly wonder whether Portland’s offseason is finished. The Blazers have also been linked to Celtics star Jaylen Brown and Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon in recent weeks, while guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe have surfaced repeatedly in trade speculation.
On the Memphis side, the move signals a dramatic shift for the franchise that once built around Morant.
The two-time All-Star has appeared in just 79 games over the past three seasons as injuries and off-court issues interrupted what once looked like a superstar trajectory.
Grant, meanwhile, gives the Grizzlies an established veteran scorer after averaging 18.6 points last season, though whether he ultimately remains part of Memphis’ long-term plans is another question entirely.
As for Portland, the organization appears ready to find out whether pairing two dynamic guards can jump-start its return to contention.
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