Ja Morant walked into Portland Trail Blazers Media Day sounding like a player who needed a clean slate.
That alone makes the Blazers’ trade look better than it did on paper. After an offseason in which Portland missed out on superstar names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, largely because the team wouldn’t commit long-term, the sight of Morant embracing the franchise and the city of Portland stood out.
Morant made it clear the move to Portland means something to him personally after his run with the Memphis Grizzlies came to an end.
"I wouldn't say it was needed, and I feel like it's always a way to get a fresh start, no matter where you're at. Obviously, when you have that chance to have one, it's very important that you take it seriously and take advantage of it," Morant said."
Obviously, how our past years went for me, I felt like it was needed for me. I can't speak for everybody else, but for me, yes.
I feel a lot better and just ready to hoop, honestly."
His answer was a little tangled at first, but the point was easy to catch: this change of scenery matters to him. He said the weight of the past followed him around in Memphis and that a new team gives him the chance to begin again.
"Everything that's happened over the years pretty much was just stuck with me. Everyone keeps bringing them up.
As long as Memphis was across my chest, it was still getting said. I'm pretty sure everybody is here probably still judging me off that some but now I get to start over," he added.
From a basketball standpoint, Portland also gives Morant a setup that could help him get back on track. He’s stepping into veteran company with Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, and that kind of structure should matter as he tries to work his way back to his two-time All-Star level.
Morant hasn’t looked like that player for a while in Memphis, and his last appearance came in the 2022-23 season. He’s still only 27, so there’s time for a bounce-back if the right pieces are in place.
The real question is how much of his slide came from injuries and how much came from an unstable situation in Memphis near the end. Portland didn’t have to give up much in the trade, so finding out the answer could be a bargain worth chasing.
For Morant, though, the early signs are already encouraging. If that feeling carries over, the Blazers may have landed more than they paid for, with a chance to see it show up in a resurgent 2026-27 campaign.
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