Trade rumors surrounding Ja Morant had been swirling for nearly a year, but nobody thought he'd land with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers traded for the two-time All-Star just before free agency opened, adding one of the NBA's most explosive guards while immediately creating an intriguing roster dilemma. Portland now has four guards who should command significant minutes: Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.
That's three natural point guards along with a combo guard in Henderson, and all four could make a legitimate case for starting roles on other teams, making the Blazers' rotation one of the most crowded in the league. That has naturally raised questions about Morant's role, particularly whether he could come off the bench. But when asked about that possibility, Morant made it clear he isn't concerned about the label.
If I'm starting, if I'm not, it's the same thing.” More news: Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama Opens up on Devastating NBA Finals Loss Morant was the No. 2 overall pick in 2019, and he quickly became the face of the Memphis Grizzlies franchise. He won Rookie of the Year honors, earned two straight All-Star selections, second-team All-NBA honors, and led Memphis to a 56-win season in 2021-22. His explosiveness made him one of the league's biggest draws and most entertaining young superstars.
However, his career in Memphis was repeatedly interrupted by injuries and off-court issues, including a 25-game suspension in 2023. Those problems eventually put him at odds with the franchise, appearing in just 79 games over his final three seasons with the Grizzlies. More news: Clippers Get Brutal Injury News on Brandon Ingram After Kawhi Leonard Trade More news: Pistons Star Jalen Duren Sends Clear Message With Training Camp Holdout For a player with plenty left to prove, Morant has said all the right things since arriving in Portland.
Teams around the league were hesitant to trade for him because of his injury history as well as concerns surrounding his maturity and professionalism. Now, he has a fresh start with the Blazers and a real opportunity to change that perception.
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