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After seven seasons, the Memphis Grizzlies traded the cornerstone of the franchise, Ja Morant, to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, ESPN reported on June 29.
The former All-Star point guard was traded for a veteran, proven starter and a developmental depth player to help usher in a new era of Grizzlies basketball.
Grant is entering year four of a five-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Trail Blazers in 2023. Grant is owed roughly $35 million over the next two seasons.
Murray is still on his rookie deal and is set to receive roughly $5 million and is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-2027 season.
Morant's name first began to percolate in trade rumors since Jan. 9, when two sources told The Commercial Appeal that the Grizzlies were listening to offers. As the Grizzlies' season continued to go wayward, Morant suffered a sprained ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow. Morant was ultimately shut down and missed most of the second half of the season.
Morant's tenure and trade talks prolonged into the offseason, and then into the NBA draft, and finally, just about 24 hours before the start of free agency, a trade was finalized.
Ahead of the NBA draft, rumors swirled that the Grizzlies continued to seek out trade partners for Morant. As time slipped away, teams began to rule out their interest in Morant.
Perhaps the biggest domino was the Miami Heat trading for Milwaukee Bucks and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Miami was long viewed as the top potential trade destination for Morant in an otherwise shallow pool of suitors.
Another potential suitor, the Minnesota Timberwolves, resigned one of their star guards, Ayo Dosunmo, but that front office later chose to pursue another point guard not named Morant in a different trade.
By the time the Grizzlies got to the NBA draft, teams began to ask for draft capital to pair alongside Morant.
It's important to note that Morant signed a five-year, $197 million contract in 2022 and is slated to make $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28, the final year of his contract. Couple Morant's contract with his overall lack of availability over the last two-plus seasons and his trade value quickly dwindled.
Regardless, the Grizzlies officially begin a new era, and Morant gets a fresh start.
Reach Commercial Appeal sports intern Said Bravo at s[email protected]
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant trade details for Grizzlies, Blazers for Kris Murray, Jerami Grant
Continue reading...
Trade details
The former All-Star point guard was traded for a veteran, proven starter and a developmental depth player to help usher in a new era of Grizzlies basketball.
Grant is entering year four of a five-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Trail Blazers in 2023. Grant is owed roughly $35 million over the next two seasons.
Murray is still on his rookie deal and is set to receive roughly $5 million and is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-2027 season.
What led to the trade?
Morant's name first began to percolate in trade rumors since Jan. 9, when two sources told The Commercial Appeal that the Grizzlies were listening to offers. As the Grizzlies' season continued to go wayward, Morant suffered a sprained ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow. Morant was ultimately shut down and missed most of the second half of the season.
Morant's tenure and trade talks prolonged into the offseason, and then into the NBA draft, and finally, just about 24 hours before the start of free agency, a trade was finalized.
Ahead of the NBA draft, rumors swirled that the Grizzlies continued to seek out trade partners for Morant. As time slipped away, teams began to rule out their interest in Morant.
Perhaps the biggest domino was the Miami Heat trading for Milwaukee Bucks and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Miami was long viewed as the top potential trade destination for Morant in an otherwise shallow pool of suitors.
Another potential suitor, the Minnesota Timberwolves, resigned one of their star guards, Ayo Dosunmo, but that front office later chose to pursue another point guard not named Morant in a different trade.
By the time the Grizzlies got to the NBA draft, teams began to ask for draft capital to pair alongside Morant.
It's important to note that Morant signed a five-year, $197 million contract in 2022 and is slated to make $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28, the final year of his contract. Couple Morant's contract with his overall lack of availability over the last two-plus seasons and his trade value quickly dwindled.
Regardless, the Grizzlies officially begin a new era, and Morant gets a fresh start.
Reach Commercial Appeal sports intern Said Bravo at s[email protected]
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant trade details for Grizzlies, Blazers for Kris Murray, Jerami Grant
Continue reading...
