Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers in Major Roster Shift The Memphis Grizzlies have completed a trade sending two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and center Kris Murray, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday. The move marks the third major departure from Memphis’ roster since the 2025 playoffs, as the team continues to reshape its roster following a first-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Morant, 26, joins a young Trail Blazers squad that made its first playoff appearance since 2021, while the Grizzlies look to build a new foundation centered around their 2026 first-round pick, Cameron Boozer. Morant’s trade follows the Grizzlies’ decision to part with two of their former franchise cornerstones—Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.—after the team was swept in the 2025 first-round series. The trio, once considered one of the league’s most talented young cores, contributed to just one playoff series win across four appearances. Memphis’ struggles with that group led to the trades, which now leave the franchise with a completely restructured roster. Morant, who has played only 79 games in three seasons due to off-court issues and injuries since his 2023 All-Star season, will join a Trail Blazers team led by breakout star Deni Avdija. The Blazers’ backcourt already includes veterans Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, who returned to the franchise on a three-year deal after being waived by the Bucks. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe also add depth to the guard position. Morant’s arrival could provide a significant boost to a team aiming to return to the postseason. Morant’s absence from the Grizzlies’ lineup has been a key factor in their recent struggles.#desmond_bane #memphis_grizzlies #portland_trail_blazers #jaren_jackson_jr #ja_morant
LeBron James and 11 Others Listed on Jazz vs. Lakers Injury Report The Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers will face off in their final regular-season matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season, with both teams dealing with significant injury concerns. The game, set for 6:30 p.m. MT, carries critical implications for playoff positioning, as the Jazz aim to secure a favorable lottery seed while the Lakers seek to clinch a third-place finish in the Western Conference. For the Jazz, eight players are ruled out for the game, including key contributors such as center Lauri Markkanen (hip), forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), and guard Walker Kessler (shoulder). The most notable absence is two-way guard Elijah Harkless, who will miss his second consecutive game due to a lingering hamstring injury. Harkless, entering his second season, posted career-high averages of 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 23 minutes per game, despite shooting 32.5% from three-point range. His absence marks the end of his second-year campaign, with no clear path to a long-term roster spot. Big man Kyle Filipowski, another key player sidelined, will miss his second straight game with a back injury. The 22-year-old center, who played in 77 games this season, averaged 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 49.2% from the field. His departure leaves the Jazz without a reliable interior presence, though rookie Ace Bailey is expected to see increased minutes. Bailey, who has shown promise in his first season, could make a push for All-Rookie honors if he performs well. The Jazz’s injury list also includes forward Jusuf Nurkic (nose), guard Keyonte George (hamstring), and rookie Jusuf Nurkic (nose), with no major surprises in the roster adjustments.#lebron_james #los_angeles_lakers #utah_jazz #jaren_jackson_jr #lauri_markkanen
The Grizzlies are already losing one crucial part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade Somehow, it still doesn’t feel real that Jaren Jackson Jr. is playing for another team besides the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite signing a five-year, $240 million contract extension last summer, Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz just two days before this season’s trade deadline. It is still too early to strongly judge the trade, but one key aspect is already going wrong for the Grizzlies. The main goal of trading Jaren Jackson Jr. was to create flexibility and secure more draft capital for the rebuild, which has been accomplished. As far as players go, Georges Niang was waived almost immediately, and Kyle Anderson was eventually bought out after he wanted to join a contender. This leaves the Grizzlies with two young players and former first-round picks in Taylor Hendricks and Walter Clayton Jr. Taylor Hendricks has shown promise despite suffering a major injury last season and is expected to be a long-term contributor for the team. The hope was for Walter Clayton Jr. to provide a boost to a point guard position already stocked with depth. However, despite Clayton Jr. being a rookie and the small sample size, his struggles are a major concern. Clayton Jr. has not found a rhythm on offense, and his performance has raised questions about his ability to adapt to the NBA. Walter Clayton Jr. really burst onto the scene as a senior at Florida and was the biggest reason the Florida Gators won the 2025 National Championship. His impressive shotmaking and ability to thrive in high-pressure moments significantly boosted his draft stock. He was selected 18th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, but his rookie season in Memphis has been a challenge. The biggest strength of Clayton Jr.#utah_jazz #memphis_grizzlies #jaren_jackson_jr #walter_clayton_jr #taylor_hendricks
