Trail Blazers Acquire Ja Morant from Grizzlies in June Trade

Ja Morant said Saturday that his June trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers offers a chance to start fresh and address his public image. The two-time All-Star spoke at Las Vegas summer league in his first public comments since the deal. "I think you know the answer to that.

"I've done what I've done in the past, but it's been addressed and handled already. I don't see why, years later, that's still the topic when nothing's happened since.

If I was that guy, y'all wouldn't be talking to me now. " Morant served an eight-game suspension in March 2023 and a 25-game ban to open the 2023-24 season, both tied to incidents in which he displayed a firearm on an Instagram livestream. The Grizzlies also suspended him for one game in November after a heated confrontation with coach Tuomas Iisalo.

ESPN reported that Portland acquired the 26-year-old by sending forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis. Morant, the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game last season while playing only 20 games due to injuries. Morant said his body feels great after spending the last four months ensuring he was in shape.

He added that he is willing to start or come off the bench and expressed excitement about playing alongside Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija. "New organization," Morant said while wearing a black polo shirt with the team's logo. "I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja.