Ja Morant to the Blazers: “They bet on his talent”

The Portland Trail Blazers continue to be one of the NBA’s busiest teams this offseason. After a change in ownership that brought Tom Dundon in as the franchise’s new governor, Portland also completed the blockbuster trade that sent Ja Morant to Oregon, with Jerami Grant and Kris Murray heading to the Memphis Grizzlies.

According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Trail Blazers view Morant as the centerpiece of their offseason and, after acquiring him, abandoned their pursuit of Jaylen Brown.

Charania also revealed that the franchise spoke with Morant less than 24 hours after the trade became official.

They felt they had to bet on Ja Morant’s talent, hoping he has extra motivation to relaunch his career

Shams Charania

Morant also sent positive signals on social media. He commented on the Trail Blazers’ official announcement with a red heart and a black heart, while, in the hours leading up to the trade, he posted – and later deleted – several messages suggesting he was ready for a fresh start.

One message stood out in particular:

Stay focused and keep working. Nothing confuses people more than a comeback they never saw being built

Ja Morant

In another post, he wrote:

I stopped chasing other people’s approval and started chasing the feeling I had almost forgotten. They tried to bury my passion under doubt, but they only gave my fire more oxygen

Ja Morant

The past few seasons have been especially challenging for Morant, who has been limited by both injuries and NBA disciplinary suspensions.

In 2025-26, he appeared in just 20 games, averaging 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 41% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range – well below the standards he set when he was the face of the Memphis franchise.

Since 2023, Morant has played only 79 total games due to injuries and off-court issues. Even so, he owns career averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game, which is why Portland decided to invest in his enormous potential.

Memphis begins a new era without Morant

With this move, the Memphis Grizzlies officially close a chapter. Following the departures of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant also leaves Tennessee, bringing an end to the era of the trio that helped restore excitement around the franchise.

The Grizzlies will now build around rookie Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Meanwhile, the team’s farewell message to Morant on social media reflected the impact he had on the organization.

Thank you for every highlight, every memory, and everything you gave to this team, this community, and this city

Memphis Grizzlies

Tom Dundon and the Trail Blazers’ future: could Portland really lose the franchise?

While Morant is the new face of the team on the court, all eyes off the court are on Tom Dundon.

The new governor is currently involved in complex negotiations regarding the renovation of the Moda Center, a project valued at roughly $600 million. Dundon is reportedly unwilling to personally finance the renovations, believing that the costs of a publicly owned arena should be covered by the city.

According to Bill Oram of The Oregonian, the owner is also exploring the possibility of building a new arena, a scenario that could even jeopardize the franchise’s long-term future in Portland.

For now, no final decision has been made, but discussions remain ongoing and represent one of the most significant issues facing the Trail Blazers.

Between trying to revive Ja Morant’s career and navigating uncertainty surrounding the team’s arena, Portland is heading into a summer that could redefine the franchise’s future both on and off the court.