The Portland Trail Blazers shook up the NBA by acquiring dynamic point guard Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster deal. In exchange for the two-time All-Star, the Grizzlies received forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, officially ending the Morant era in Memphis.
Analyzing the initial aftermath shows clear dividing lines. Here is the breakdown of the major winners and losers from the blockbuster Ja Morant trade.
Winners and Losers from the Ja Morant Trade
Winner: Ja Morant
After a tumultuous few seasons marred by injuries, off-court issues, and a dwindling trade market, a change of scenery is exactly what Morant needs. In Portland, he has the opportunity to start with a clean slate. Morant gets a chance to rebuild his image and elevate his career alongside established NBA stars like Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, assuming that all three guards will still be on the roster by the start of season.
This Ja Morant trade offers the ultimate career reset for a player that so desperately needs it. If he can stay focused and healthy, he should immediately provide a boost to his other teammates and make Portland a much more dangerous team than they’ve been in recent memory.
Winner: Portland Trail Blazers Front Office
It is certainly a gamble, but the Trail Blazers ultimately acquired an explosive, former All-NBA talent without giving up a single draft pick or a core rotation piece. Trading away Grant, who had a bloated, $70.6 million contract, and Murray allowed the Blazers to add a high-ceiling cornerstone at marginal risk. If Morant finds his peak form, Portland will have executed one of the biggest steals in recent memory, making this Ja Morant trade a potential masterclass in risk management.
Winner: Donovan Clingan
The Morant acquisition is an enormous indirect win for young center Donovan Clingan. With Morant and Lillard likely in the starting backcourt, the Blazers’ perimeter defense will undoubtedly suffer. This means Clingan will be tasked with more rim protection and defensive anchoring. This increased responsibility accelerates his development into the defensive, space-eating anchor the franchise envisioned. He can and most likely will see an offensive boost as well with the addition of Morant, making Clingan a potential breakout star sooner rather than later.
Loser: Memphis Grizzlies
While Memphis undoubtedly had to unburden themselves from Morant’s controversy and bloated contract, the return they received is extremely underwhelming. The Grizzlies previously had sky-high aspirations for a young core featuring Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. Having to trade all three of their former franchise cornerstones away for bad contracts and minimal draft compensation represents a stark fall from grace, leaving fans frustrated with the final outcome of the Ja Morant trade. Memphis knew it was time to move on no matter what, but now they could be in for a very long and painful rebuild.
Losers: Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson
While Morant’s upside is undeniable, his arrival creates a significant roster crunch. The Blazers already have an incredibly crowded backcourt, with Lillard, Holiday, and Scoot Henderson. Figuring out how to divide minutes, keep everyone happy, and manage the lack of perimeter defense will be a severe headache for the coaching staff. Someone will inevitably see a massive dip in their on-court role due to the ripples caused by this Ja Morant trade and it is likely to be Holiday or Henderson.
However, I must add that it is pretty hard to believe that all four of these guards will be on the roster by the start of the season. Portland may not be done making moves yet, as superstar Jaylen Brown is still rumored to be available for trade as of Tuesday morning and I could certainly see one of these guards being involved in a deal for Brown.
The Verdict: A Bold Move With Low Risk
For the Blazers, taking a swing on a 26-year-old former star without surrendering future draft capital is a brilliant piece of business. However, the real work begins now. Portland must figure out how to navigate its crowded backcourt if they do not land Brown and surround the defensively-limited duo of Morant and Lillard with enough wings to contend in the Western Conference. Ultimately, history will judge the Ja Morant trade on how well these pieces fit together on the hardwood.
Main Image: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
