Embattled point guard no longer an option for Phoenix Suns

Whether you’re among the Phoenix Suns fans who felt rolling the dice on a change of scenery for former Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant was worthwhile is now a moot point.

The embattled Murray State product is getting his change of scenery — just not with the Suns. Morant was traded by Memphis to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The return was especially lackluster after Morant’s trade value continued to sink like a brick in a swimming pool, prompting ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill to report that teams wanted draft compensation from the Grizzlies in any deal taking on Morant and his contract.

It appears Portland was willing to make the gamble without draft incentives, so Morant gets a fresh start with the Trail Blazers.

Suns miss out (or dodge disaster) with Ja Morant trade

Time obviously will tell whether the aforementioned change of scenery triggers a resurgence for Morant. He was a two-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player winner during his time in Memphis, but he’s played just 79 games total over the past three seasons due to a combination of injuries and off-court issues.

When healthy and engaged, Morant proved to be among the most dynamic point guards in the league, slashing to the rim with ease and finishing amongst the trees. But he hasn’t been that guy for some time now, finishing the 2025-26 season with career lows in field goal percentage (41%) and 3-point percentage (23.5%).

The Suns proved that off-court baggage wasn’t a deterrent for them in the Miles Bridges deal. Ultimately, though, Phoenix didn’t embrace a reunion between Ja and former teammate Dillon Brooks.

Instead, Morant goes to Portland, another Western Conference squad looking to improve by adding Ja’s potential for a renaissance alongside Damian Lillard (who should be fully recovered from an Achilles injury) and breakout star Deni Avdija (who torched Phoenix during the Play-In Tournament).

It’s a bit of an odd fit for Morant alongside Lillard and Avdija who also thrive with the ball in their hands. However, if he’s healthy and buys into his new situation, perhaps he can show fans the player he was is still in there somewhere.

For the Suns, the deal takes a point guard off the board for a team in desperate need of a floor general beside Devin Booker, Brooks and the newly acquired Bridges.

They may yet allow the Kevin Durant trade to branch out further by putting Jalen Green on the trade block, but options they can add are dwindling quickly.

For now, Portland arguably improves in a loaded Western Conference that could set up the Suns for a season of regression.

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