A first reunion since the trade
Ja Morant plays his former team for the first time tonight, when Portland hosts the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis sent him to the Trail Blazers on June 29 for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, and the 27-year-old says he arrives without a grudge.
Three games in, he reports that Portland suits him better. The numbers back up a smoother fit: 16.3 points, 6.3 assists and 58.8 percent shooting from the field. He scored 23 in Tuesday’s 136-129 road win over the Lakers.
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A different job description
In Memphis, Morant carried the ball-handling load almost alone. In Portland he shares it with Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, which removes the pressure to be the do-it-all guard. For a player who averaged a career-high 27.4 points in 2021-22, when the Grizzlies won 56 games, that is a real change of role.
The second pick of the 2019 draft and that year’s Rookie of the Year also carries baggage. He was suspended eight games in March 2023 and 25 more three months later, both for gun-related incidents.
Memphis is not struggling
The Grizzlies come in at 4-0 after beating Utah by 20 at home and then 110-105 in Salt Lake City on Monday. Ty Jerome averages 29.8 points and 6.5 assists, and he opened the season with a career-best 45. Cedric Coward added 16 points and 11 rebounds Monday. Last season Portland went 3-1 against Memphis, including a 20-point and a seven-point win on consecutive February home dates.
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