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The Portland Trail Blazers didn't just welcome Ja Morant on social media or in a press release.
They're making sure all of Rip City welcomes him, too.
Weeks after acquiring the former All-Star guard from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, Portland unveiled its new "Call Ja" campaign, giving fans the opportunity to leave Morant a personal voicemail as he begins the next chapter of his career.
Morant helped launch the initiative Tuesday by posting a cinematic hype video to social media. The clip opens with a ringing telephone before ending with the newest face of the franchise answering the call.
"Rip City, you called?"
Fans are then directed to a dedicated "Call Ja" page, where they can record a message for the 26-year-old guard.
"Ja Morant is officially in Portland. Now it's your turn to welcome him to Rip City," the website reads.
The organization encourages fans to "leave Ja a personal voicemail, share what Rip City means to you and help kick off a new era of Trail Blazers basketball," adding that messages can range from a simple welcome to words of encouragement or excitement for opening night.
On the surface ... it's simply a creative marketing campaign.
But it also represents the clearest indication yet that Portland is fully embracing Morant as one of the faces of its new era.
General manager Joe Cronin spent much of the offseason searching for another superstar. The Blazers checked in on Giannis Antetokounmpo before he was traded to the Miami Heat and were later connected to LaMelo Ball before he landed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Portland also continues to loom as a potential suitor for ... whatever big name becomes available next.
But none of that no longer matters, because the franchise landed on Morant.
Despite an injury-plagued and turbulent finish to his tenure in Memphis, Morant remains one of the NBA's most electric talents when healthy. The Blazers are betting that a change of scenery alongside Damian Lillard can help unlock that version of the two-time All-Star once again.
Everything Portland has done since the trade has pointed in the same direction.
Morant has already toured the team's practice facility, debuted in multiple promotional videos and now has an entire fan campaign built around welcoming him to Rip City.
The "Call Ja" initiative may seem like a small gesture.
But for a franchise hoping Morant becomes the centerpiece of its next championship pursuit, it's another sign that the Blazers aren't just introducing a new player.
They're introducing a new era.
Continue reading...
They're making sure all of Rip City welcomes him, too.
Weeks after acquiring the former All-Star guard from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, Portland unveiled its new "Call Ja" campaign, giving fans the opportunity to leave Morant a personal voicemail as he begins the next chapter of his career.
Morant helped launch the initiative Tuesday by posting a cinematic hype video to social media. The clip opens with a ringing telephone before ending with the newest face of the franchise answering the call.
"Rip City, you called?"
Fans are then directed to a dedicated "Call Ja" page, where they can record a message for the 26-year-old guard.
"Ja Morant is officially in Portland. Now it's your turn to welcome him to Rip City," the website reads.
The organization encourages fans to "leave Ja a personal voicemail, share what Rip City means to you and help kick off a new era of Trail Blazers basketball," adding that messages can range from a simple welcome to words of encouragement or excitement for opening night.
On the surface ... it's simply a creative marketing campaign.
But it also represents the clearest indication yet that Portland is fully embracing Morant as one of the faces of its new era.
General manager Joe Cronin spent much of the offseason searching for another superstar. The Blazers checked in on Giannis Antetokounmpo before he was traded to the Miami Heat and were later connected to LaMelo Ball before he landed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Portland also continues to loom as a potential suitor for ... whatever big name becomes available next.
But none of that no longer matters, because the franchise landed on Morant.
Despite an injury-plagued and turbulent finish to his tenure in Memphis, Morant remains one of the NBA's most electric talents when healthy. The Blazers are betting that a change of scenery alongside Damian Lillard can help unlock that version of the two-time All-Star once again.
Everything Portland has done since the trade has pointed in the same direction.
Morant has already toured the team's practice facility, debuted in multiple promotional videos and now has an entire fan campaign built around welcoming him to Rip City.
The "Call Ja" initiative may seem like a small gesture.
But for a franchise hoping Morant becomes the centerpiece of its next championship pursuit, it's another sign that the Blazers aren't just introducing a new player.
They're introducing a new era.
Continue reading...
