Portland Trail Blazers Acquire Ja Morant in Costly Trade Deal

The Portland Trail Blazers surprised the NBA by acquiring star guard Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade involving Jeremy Grant and Kris Murray. The deal, finalized by new owner Tom Dundon, comes with a significant financial burden. Morant is set to earn $42.2 million this season and $44.9 million next season, which means Portland will pay an additional $2.7 million this year and $7.2 million next year compared to the salaries of Grant and Murray, assuming Grant does not opt out of his contract.

Overall, the trade could cost Portland between $15 million and $20 million or more, even after receiving $1 million from Memphis. The Blazers may also be preparing for another trade involving one of their young guards, either D.J. Sharp or Scott Henderson. Sharp has a long-term contract with salaries of $23 million in 2028/29 and $24.9 million in 2029/30, while Henderson is expected to sign a similar deal.

Trading one of these guards could help Portland manage the massive contract expected for Israeli player Deni Avdija, whose deal runs through the 2027/28 season and could total $150 million to $160 million. The timing of acquiring Morant, whose contract ends the same year as Avdija's, may facilitate salary cap flexibility for the Blazers moving forward.