Blazers bet on a Ja Morant comeback for just Jerami Grant and Kris Murray

The Trail Blazers acquired Ja Morant for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, according to sports.yahoo.com — a price that measures exactly how far the former All-Star’s stock has fallen. The trade itself has not been officially confirmed by the teams.

Morant once looked like the future face of the NBA. His explosive handle, acrobatic finishes and disregard for anyone between him and the rim made him a nightly spectacle. But injuries, off-court troubles and diminishing on-court performance have eroded that value.

He is owed more than $40 million in each of the next two seasons, per the source. That is a heavy commitment for a player whose recent production has not matched his contract.

For just Grant and Murray, the source states the Blazers’ decision to take the chance is understandable. Portland is not surrendering draft capital or a young cornerstone. It is swapping a veteran forward and a developing wing for a player with a genuine ceiling.

The question is whether Morant can reach it again. At 27, he is young enough to reclaim his prime — if his body and mind cooperate. The Blazers are betting that they do.

WHY PORTLAND NEEDS HIM

Why Portland needs him starts with Deni Avdija. According to the source, Avdija needs a co-star, and the Blazers’ roster does not currently have one waiting in the wings.

Scoot Henderson hasn’t shown enough consistency to become that player, per the source. The development timeline for the young guard remains uncertain, and Portland cannot bank on him filling the role next season.

Damian Lillard is returning from a torn Achilles, and Shaedon Sharpe is recovering from knee surgery. The exact status of both recoveries is not detailed in the source, which leaves real questions about how much either can provide early in the year.

That combination leaves a void. The source says taking the next step could require a gamble on talent Portland wouldn’t otherwise have a realistic chance to acquire. Morant, for all his risk, is exactly that kind of talent.

The Blazers are not trading away draft picks or a young cornerstone to make this bet. They are swapping a veteran forward and a developing wing for a player with a genuine ceiling. If Avdija is going to lead this group anywhere meaningful, he needs someone who can bend a defense and draw the kind of attention that opens up the floor.

Morant, at his best, does that. The question is whether the version Portland just acquired can still be that player.