Trae Young was the first polarizing star guard to be moved this trade season. Could Ja Morant be next? That looks increasingly likely as ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Memphis Grizzlies are officially listening to offers for Morant.
While the Portland Trail Blazers still need to continue their quest to add more star power, Morant is not the solution. Blazers general manager Joe Cronin has historically been quiet at the deadline, so hopefully that's the case with this latest Morant development in particular.
Ja Morant doesn't fit the Trail Blazers roster
There are three red flags that make this a poor fit for the up-and-coming Blazers roster: shooting, health, and off-court issues.
If the Blazers do make a splash at the deadline, that addition absolutely needs to be able to effectively space the floor. Portland ranks in the bottom five in three-point percentage, and Morant is shooting a concerning 20.8% from deep this season. For his career, he's still well below average at 31%.
With Deni Avdija's leap this season, Portland needs to consider how this incoming player complements his game. Avdija has been incredible in his point-forward role, and Morant is at his best with the ball in his hands. Ideally, they need someone who can take some of the playmaking burden off Avdija while also being a reliable spot-up shooter to space the floor for his drives (which is why Jrue Holiday, when healthy, is such a good fit).
The on-court fit doesn't make sense, and that's before even factoring in Morant's unreliability. Since entering the league in 2019, he hasn't exceeded 70 games played in a single season. He's currently sidelined with a right calf contusion. This is even more concerning for someone who relies so heavily on his athleticism to make an impact. Morant is only 26 years old, but his game isn't going to age as gracefully without a reliable shot, especially with these injuries piling up.
Lastly, he's not a good leader. There have been way too many off-court issues to the point where it's simply not worth the roster headache. The Blazers have a good thing going in terms of team chemistry, and would risk that going out the window by bringing in Morant.
Ultimately, the Grizzlies may be able to get more in return for Morant than the Hawks did for Young. That's primarily because of his contract as someone who is roughly $10 million cheaper and still on the books through 2027-28. Charania adds that multiple teams are already pursuing Morant, making it more likely that the Blazers would have to sacrifice actual assets to win this bidding war.
Given the poor fit, Portland should stay as far away from Morant as possible.