A split between the Grizzlies and Ja Morant was likely the best outcome for both parties, but that should not diminish how entertaining Morant still is. It was a challenging last season in Memphis for Morant as far as injuries and on-court performances go, but if the Blazers manage to get the version he showed in his last games in Memphis, he will be instantly loved by Trail Blazers fans.
It did not end the way that Grizzlies fans hoped for, but Morant is still incredibly talented and gave the franchise exciting basketball throughout his seven seasons in Memphis. Morant embraced the city and had an extremely special rise after being selected second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Grizzlies saw playoff basketball extremely early on, and Morant had two All-Star appearances and an All-NBA appearance. The hope was for the Next Gen Era to deliver Memphis its first NBA championship, but the team failed to win another playoff series despite such a promising 2021/22 season.
Plenty of blame should go around, whether it is the front office, coaching, or the players. What was once one of the most promising cores in basketball officially came to end after Ja Morant was traded to the Trail Blazers yesterday for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
But now, the Grizzlies can go all in on a new rebuild, and Ja Morant gets a fresh start. Morant will have a golden opportunity to revive his career with a Trail Blazers team that just returned to the playoffs this past season.
Trail Blazers fans will love Morant despite the ending in Memphis
Truthfully, it is very understandable why the Grizzlies moved on, and I believe it was the right move after how this season played out. Morant had appeared in just 79 of a possible 246 regular season games the last three seasons, and there has been a concerning dip in offensive efficiency. However, at his best, Morant still has plenty left in the tank, and it is understandable why Portland is taking a chance.
Morant had averaged 19.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 20 games but shot just 41% from the field and 23.5% from three. However, performances such as the Berlin game and his 40-point game on national television in December against the 76ers are still reminders of what Morant can do at his best.
It would not be surprising to see Morant benefit from a change of scenery in Portland despite concerns about health and regression. Beyond stats, and despite how things ended in Memphis, Morant is still ridiculously entertaining thanks to his playmaking and handles. When he's at his best and getting to the rim, Morant feels very unguardable at times, especially in clutch moments.
Even though Portland will have to figure out how to best maximize their backcourt, especially if Morant starts alongside Damian Lillard, it will be extremely entertaining the moment he puts on a Trail Blazers jersey.
It will be plenty to work for Portland to catch teams such as the Spurs and Thunder, but Blazers fans will be in for a fun ride while they have Ja Morant on the roster.
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