The Portland Trail Blazers have seemingly decided that having too many guards isn't actually a problem.
Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson are all expected to enter training camp on Micah Nori's roster, with Portland reportedly believing it can make the overcrowded group work.
That's certainly one way to handle it.
But if the Blazers are committed to keeping Henderson despite acquiring another ball-dominant point guard in Morant, then it's time to prove they remain equally committed to his future.
Henderson is eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension until Oct. 19, the day before the 2026-27 regular season begins. If the two sides don't reach an agreement, he'll make $13.6 million in the final year of his rookie contract before entering restricted free agency next summer.

#morant #make

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won his first ring next to LeBron James, now he is headed to Philadelphia to try and do it again.
Caldwell-Pope and the Grizzlies are working out a buyout, and once the veteran wing clears waivers, he intends to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.
KCP moving on from Memphis is not a surprise. He was brought in while the team still had Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. and was looking to win. With the Grizzlies pivoting to a youth movement — plus they are dealing with a roster crunch — it makes sense to buy out KCP, who is set to make $ 21.6 million this season. (KCP likely gives the Grizzlies a discount of exactly how much he can sign with the 76ers for.)
Caldwell-Pope was a key part of the Lakers' **** le run in the bubble, and three years later became a starter for the Denver team that won a **** le behind Nikola Jokic.
However, the past couple of seasons his game has slipped. Last season in Memphis, he averaged just 8.4 points a game and shot 31.6% from 3-point range. He was out from February on after having surgery to adjust a misaligned pinky finger on his right hand.

#philadelphia #sign #title

A former Ohio State legend looks like he will be on the move.
According to a Yahoo Sports report, the Memphis Grizzlies and D'Angelo Russell are in discussions to work together to let the veteran guard find a new home.
The Memphis Grizzlies are undergoing a rebuild after the trade of their star Ja Morant this offseason and it does not seem to be a timeline fit with Russell. The sides are discussing a potential buyout agreement or possibly trade. A potential move would have Russell land with his fourth team in two seasons.
Russell was traded to the Grizzlies in a six-team trade earlier in the offseason. He spent time with the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards last season.
Russell, 30, appeared in 25 games for Dallas in 2025-26. He chose to opt-in to the final year of his contract which was for $6 million dollars.

#grizzlies #trade

Drew Hill: Ja Morant is welcoming a fresh start. He said he wants to show Portland a "different Ja." But that reality is still sinking in. "I'm definitely grateful for my time in Memphis," he said. "That will always be home for me."
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I'm definitely grateful for my time in Memphis," he …

Lakers can fix defensive issues next to Luka Doncic by trading for $134M All-World defender originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If the Los Angeles Lakers can do anything over the next few months, I'd love for them to go get a POA defender.
The Lakers, at the moment, don't really have much resistance on defense.
Unfortunately, the Lakers really don't have many ******* ets or much money to move on from as well. That's why trading for certain players would be nearly impossible, though I'd love to see the Lakers make a move that could help them win immediately.
One of the players I'd love for them to go after is Jrue Holiday, the Portland Trail Blazers guard who might not be much of a perfect fit in Portland any longer because of the Ja Morant route.

NBA free agency 2026: Trae Young, Neemias Queta highlight best and worst contracts handed out during first week originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 free agency class wasn't a particularly great one. And we're still waiting for the biggest shoe to drop as LeBron James continues to weigh his options on what new team to join.
Despite the lack of headline names, there were still some very good and very bad deals signed this summer. Contracts for role players may not seem like a big deal, but they are oftentimes the biggest value-adds for contending rosters. Saving money on your fourth or fifth-best players are the type of smart moves on the margins that allow teams to get bigger stars on their payroll down the road.
There were several of those types of transactions. Some teams made out like bandits, while others made decisions that are going to cause a lot of pain down the line. Using my salary model, here's what the best and worst contracts of the summer were.
OFFSEASON TRADE GRADES: Giannis to Heat | LaMelo Ball to Wolves | Julius Randle to Nets | Ja Morant to Blazers | Kawhi Leonard to Raptors | Jaylen Brown to Sixers, Paul George to Celtics

Bringing the ball up, Cameron Boozer drove left. A few dribbles later, he pulled up for the baseline fadeaway jumper. The mid-range bucket swished through. The 18-year-old showed why he's not your older brother's typical NBA power forward. The game has evolved.
The Oklahoma City Thunder opened their 2026 Summer League with an 111-74 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Two lottery picks headlined the exhibition. And no offense to Aday Mara, but Boozer showed why he went No. 3 in the 2026 NBA draft.
Boozer finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, four rebounds and four ***** ists. To get things started, he slashed at the dunker's spot and went up for a jam despite Mara's 7-foot-3 frame contesting him. That type of blue-collar bucket is what the Grizzlies are latching onto.
Moving on from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane over the last year, the Grizzlies are starting over. They're in the infancy stages of a rebuild. Blessed with lottery luck, Boozer hopes to be Memphis' first foundational piece of its new era.
Here's what the Thunder had to say about Boozer. They were the first team to face him in an NBA setting:

Posting up near the right elbow, Aday Mara went to work in the post. He only needed a couple of dribbles as he backed up Lawson Lovering. Feeling himself, the 7-foot-3 center showed off his footwork and patience by swishing in the turnaround fadeaway jumper.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell in a 111-74 Summer League loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. While the result was known for most of the game, fans were at least rewarded with flashes from the top prospects in their debut for their NBA home.
It didn't take long to tell that one of these teams is a ***** le contender and the other is going through a rebuild. Cameron Boozer holds the hope of every Grizzlies fan right now — especially with the recent departures of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. And he quickly showed why he was the No. 3 pick of the 2026 NBA draft.
Meanwhile, the Thunder fell behind quickly. Any competitiveness from this game was erased by the end of the first frame. They were in a 33-22 deficit. Things only got worse from there. It didn't take long for the Grizzlies to balloon their lead beyond 20 points. The second frame played out the same way with duplicate scores.
At the halftime break, the Thunder were in a 66-44 deficit. Pretty bad, but you gotta remember the scoreboard is irrelevant at Summer League. Rational folks should see if rookies can show something. And after a slow first half, OKC finally saw that with its top draft pick.

We are approaching 48 hours into 2026 NBA free agency, and a lot has happened.
Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor again. LeBron James is no longer a Los Angeles Laker. Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the Miami Heat. Jaylen Brown is no longer a Boston Celtic.
Should we go on? LaMelo Ball is a Minnesota Timberwolf. Ja Morant is a Portland Trail Blazer. The Lakers spent $70 million in salary cap ***** e, much of it on Walker Kessler.
Our heads are spinning. We can imagine how you feel. So, we've sorted it all out for you in our annual look at the early winners and losers of free agency, starting in Los Angeles …
Shoutout, storybook endings.

While free agency is not over, things have slowed down after a furious first few days. And now the attention turns to Summer League action, which begins with smaller tournaments in California and Utah this week before the entire NBA meets in Las Vegas on July 9.
Summer League and regular-season play are two entirely different animals, but the action gives fantasy managers a small glimpse into how teams hope to use their rookies. Here are ten players to watch over the next two-plus weeks.
Ja Morant, Norman Powell and other offseason moves affecting fantasy basketball in 2026-27
Between trades and players deciding to stay put, there has not been as much star power in this summer’s free agency window.
Raphielle Johnson

The final game of the 2025-26 season was played on June 13, 2026, when the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Finals to capture their first championship since 1973. That celebratory moment felt like a lifetime ago.
In the past four weeks, the NBA Draft Lottery, NBA Draft, and free agency have all either concluded or commenced. There’s been plenty of roster movement — league-altering trades, agreed-upon free agency deals and more. And just as we try to catch our breat, the NBA Summer League is upon us. In the following sections, I’ll highlight 10 returning players who fantasy managers should pay attention to in the California Classic, Salt Lake City Summer League, and Las Vegas Summer League.
The San Antonio Spurs’ young players accelerated their learning curve this past season and, as a result, finished way ahead of schedule with an NBA Finals berth. While Carter’s minutes per game weren’t very high as a rookie (11.1), he has a case for being included on that accelerated path, albeit comfortably behind the likes of Dylan Harper, his fellow 2035 draft classmate. He logged minutes in several big-time postseason games for the Spurs less than one month ago. And with the uncertain future of Harrison Barnes, Bryant has a chance to play a much larger role as a second-year player — even with Tobias Harris being added to the equation.
Bryant was already a notable performer in the 2025 Summer League and should be one of the better guys to lace them up during these offseason games. A good showing could give him a head start and a potential second-year leap, leading to greater fantasy value.
Once it was clear the direction Memphis was moving in last season — trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. and shutting down Ja Morant — Small got a chance to audition for a prominent role. His time to shine came after the All-Star Break, when he immediately logged a 16-point, four-steal performance before playing well over the next 20 games and posting averages of 13.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 1.3 steals on 50.8/45.7/84.2 shooting splits post-All-Star Break. With Morant departed to Portland via trade, there’s no clear starting point guard over in Memphis at the moment. A strong Summer League showing should provide fantasy managers confidence that, at the very least, Small returns as a nightly contributor off the bench. At best, he earns a full-time starting gig at point guard, which could equate to meaningful fantasy production.

The Dallas Mavericks have acquired Santi Aldama in exchange for A.J. Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick that originally belonged to the Golden State Warriors and two second-round picks, according to DLLS’ Marc Stein.
Aldama, a 7-foot Spaniard, spent the first five years of his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 14 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 **** ists last season in Memphis while shooting 35% from 3 on 4.7 attempts per game. The 7-footer’s willingness to take 3-pointers will be immensely valuable to the Mavericks, who are building around the rim pressure Cooper Flagg provides.
The Rookie of the Year and Aldama, who is only 25 years old, should show synergy on the hardwood together. The versatile big man showed the ability to play with a slashing guard in Ja Morant and more traditional big men such as Zach Edey and Steven Adams.
He also played more than 2,000 minutes with former Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. A lineup with Mavericks rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Flagg and Aldama should provide unique versatility for Mavericks head coach Dusty May’s offensive scheme.
Aldama will make $17 million this upcoming season, and the Mavericks hold a $17 million team option on him for 2027-28.

Damian Lillard walked into the NBA as a grizzled veteran.
The moment he stepped foot in Portland, he was ready to lead and impart wisdom on his teammates.

He’s always had the utmost confidence in himself, and he’s used that excess confidence to embolden those around him.
“I’m not surprised by it,” Lillard said at the news conference following his Rookie of the Year selection. “That’s not meant to be a **** y statement. But I’m not surprised by it at all because I put the work in to put myself in this position.”
Now thirteen years into his NBA career, he’s only refined his leadership skills.

Those will come in handy soon, as the Blazers have traded for the callow yet phenomenal Ja Morant, giving Lillard his tallest task yet.
The Blazers paid possibly the lowest-ever price for a 26-year-old two-time All-Star and Second-Team All-NBA player; Trading away Jerami Grant and Kris Murray was an exchange of bad money for worse money.

Kawhi Leonard is headed back to the Toronto Raptors, after they struck a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to reunite with the player who led their run to the 2019 NBA championship, a person with knowledge of the talks said Tuesday.
The Raptors are sending Brandon Ingram, Gradey ***** , two first-round picks, two second-round picks and pick swap to the Clippers for Leonard, said the person who spoke to The ***** ociated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not received the required league approval.
Leonard spent one season in Toronto, and that was the year the Raptors won their lone ***** le. He turned 35 on Monday but is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.
Leonard is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA champion (also having won in 2014 with San Antonio) and is generally considered one of the game's top defensive players.
The trade is the latest in what's becoming a long line of huge deals getting made between clubs already this summer, one that has seen Giannis Antetokounmpo getting traded by Milwaukee to Miami, Ja Morant getting moved to Portland by Memphis and now this — one where the Raptors will hope that Leonard can weave his ***** le magic one more time.

If the Portland Trail Blazers were ever truly serious about trading for star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown , it appears that such an avenue for the Blazers front office has passed. Echoing similar comments from senior ESPN reporter Shams Charania, Stein Line contributors Jake Fischer and Marc Stein report that Portland is not currently planning to make a run at the former finals MVP.
"They pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo . They've coveted Brown for some time as well. They were expected to chase Davis, too, if extension talks with the Wizards went astray," writes the duo. "Yet that's all off the table now after Portland seized on the opportunity to pilfer Morant from Memphis at such a minimal cost."
But it is not just the Blazers who are reportedly eschewing an opportunity to deal for Brown this summer as Boston seeks to sort out the mess they made in looking to swap the Georgia native for (then) Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, per the Stein Line.
They write that "the Clippers , whether or not their talks with the Raptors progress all the way to a completed deal, have not pursued Boston's Jaylen Brown this offseason."
And in case we were wondering whether this was more an order-of-operations take in terms of when such a pursuit could occur, they also noted that the "Clippers aren't planning to make a run at the Celtics' MVP candidate."

Life in the NBA can change on a dime. Former Iowa basketball forward Kris Murray found that out the hard way.
On Monday, news broke of a blockbuster NBA trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies are dealing two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant to the Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
For Portland, it's a move that signals they're swinging for the fences and ready to start winning consistently. Morant has some injury and off-the-court issues, but is a talented player when available. The Grizzlies are getting off his contract and get to recoup a little value with Murray, a former first-round pick.
The trade officially ends Murray's tenure in Portland. He appeared in 188 games as a Trail Blazer, making 50 starts. He averaged 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game over those three years. He'll now get the opportunity for more playing time on a rebuilding Grizzlies squad. Murray should see some extended run as Memphis sets itself up for the 2027 NBA Draft.
It's a huge year for Murray's future in the NBA. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to be a restricted free agent next summer. A breakout year in Memphis could get him paid next offseason. Struggles could put his NBA future in jeopardy.

INDIANAPOLIS -- NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. on Tuesday with the flipping over of the league calendar which formally allows teams to begin negotiating with free agents who are not their own. Players can't formally sign until July 6 so this is sometimes considered a "legal tampering period" but there will be news about players agreeing to change teams starting not long after the clock hits 6 p.m. in the Eastern time zone.
That being said, teams have been able to negotiate with their own free agents since the day after the NBA Finals and in the same stretch teams have been able to engage with other on trades so some of the biggest personnel stories of the summer have already come to pass. The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade between the Bucks and Heat the day before the draft still marks the biggest move of the summer, but Monday was one of the overall most active days of the cycle so far as it marked a deadline for many players and teams to decide on player and club options for this season.
Over the course of the day, some of the league's most interesting free agents came off the board either because options were exercised or extensions were executed. Among them were Sacramento's Zach LaVine, Golden State's Kristaps Porzingis, Houston's Fred VanVleet, Miami's Andrew Wiggins, the Lakers' Deandre Ayton, Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort, Detroit's Kevin Huerter, San Antonio's Julian Champagnie, the Clippers' Brook Lopez and Utah's Jusuf Nurkic. However, there was a major trade with troubled All-Star point guard Ja Morant going from Memphis to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray and intrigue among several players who either declined options or saw their clubs decline them.
Former MVP James Harden declined his player option but is apparently working on a multi-year deal with Cleveland. Golden State's Draymond Green declined his player option, but the point of that was apparently to open up room under the first luxury tax apron to allow the Warriors to try to make plays for the Lakers' LeBron James and the Wizards' Anthony Davis to try to pair the two Olympians with Green and Stephen Curry. Atlanta's Jonathan **** inga had his club option declined as did the Clippers' Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nicolas Batum and Oklahoma City's Kenrich Williams. The Clippers' Bradley Beal and the Lakers' Marcus Smart both declined player options to opt for free agency.
The Pacers for their part have been fairly quiet and there isn't much smoke going around about their potential involvement in any player movement. They picked up the $2.8 million club option for Micah Potter, which gives them the bird-in-hand advantage of having three centers under contract heading into free agency. However, his contract is not fully guaranteed until July 10, so they can continue to monitor the free agent market to see if they can find a better center and waive Potter if they do.

INDIANAPOLIS -- NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. on Tuesday with the flipping over of the league calendar which formally allows teams to begin negotiating with free agents who are not their own. Players can't formally sign until July 6 so this is sometimes considered a "legal tampering period" but there will be news about players agreeing to change teams starting not long after the clock hits 6 p.m. in the Eastern time zone.
That being said, teams have been able to negotiate with their own free agents since the day after the NBA Finals and in the same stretch teams have been able to engage with other on trades so some of the biggest personnel stories of the summer have already come to pass. The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade between the Bucks and Heat the day before the draft still marks the biggest move of the summer, but Monday was one of the overall most active days of the cycle so far as it marked a deadline for many players and teams to decide on player and club options for this season.
Over the course of the day, some of the league's most interesting free agents came off the board either because options were exercised or extensions were executed. Among them were Sacramento's Zach LaVine, Golden State's Kristaps Porzingis, Houston's Fred VanVleet, Miami's Andrew Wiggins, the Lakers' Deandre Ayton, Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort, Detroit's Kevin Huerter, San Antonio's Julian Champagnie, the Clippers' Brook Lopez and Utah's Jusuf Nurkic. However, there was a major trade with troubled All-Star point guard Ja Morant going from Memphis to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray and intrigue among several players who either declined options or saw their clubs decline them.
Former MVP James Harden declined his player option but is apparently working on a multi-year deal with Cleveland. Golden State's Draymond Green declined his player option, but the point of that was apparently to open up room under the first luxury tax apron to allow the Warriors to try to make plays for the Lakers' LeBron James and the Wizards' Anthony Davis to try to pair the two Olympians with Green and Stephen Curry. Atlanta's Jonathan ******* inga had his club option declined as did the Clippers' Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nicolas Batum and Oklahoma City's Kenrich Williams. The Clippers' Bradley Beal and the Lakers' Marcus Smart both declined player options to opt for free agency.
The Pacers for their part have been fairly quiet and there isn't much smoke going around about their potential involvement in any player movement. They picked up the $2.8 million club option for Micah Potter, which gives them the bird-in-hand advantage of having three centers under contract heading into free agency. However, his contract is not fully guaranteed until July 10, so they can continue to monitor the free agent market to see if they can find a better center and waive Potter if they do.

Here's what ESPN's Shams Charania had to say on "SportsCenter" when asked whether the Portland Trail Blazers could make a move for the Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown after they traded for Ja Morant on Monday: "This was their big move, Charania said. "As of right now, my understanding is they're not involved with Jaylen Brown."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "This was their big move, Charania said. "As of right …

Multiple executives still believe Portland could be involved in trade discussions for the Celtics' Jaylen Brown, and that could be the next big move. Has Morant hit rock bottom? One high-level exec told ESPN over the weekend that he believes Morant's needs extend beyond basketball. He actually believes, however, that Morant can make a comeback to his old form because of how the guard competes when he's healthy.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Multiple executives still believe Portland could be …

Trail Blazers send message to NBA about roster plans with Ja Morant originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When Ja Morant was traded to the Trail Blazers, NBA fans had a few questions.
What? Why? How?
There were theories about Portland's plans after trading Kris Murray and Jerami Grant for the enigmatic superstar. Would they go after Jaylen Brown to pair him with Morant?
A new report from Marc Stein says that may not be a possibility after the Blazers announced their loyalty to one of their veteran leaders.

Jake Fischer: No picks changed hands in the Ja Morant trade to the Trail Blazers, but the Memphis Grizzlies did send $1 million in cash to Portland, sources say, in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: No picks changed hands in the Ja Morant trade to the …

Ja Morant trade could dramatically reshape Trail Blazers' pursuit of Celtics star Jaylen Brown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As of recently, the Boston Celtics’ biggest suitor to take Jaylen Brown from them was the Portland Trail Blazers, but their most recent move does change things quite significantly.
Just today, the Blazers traded for Ja Morant, bringing out conflicting reports and presumptions regarding their pursuit of Brown. Many believe the Blazers are now done, but many others believe it might be time for Portland to go all-in and acquire Brown.
© Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images
Because Portland took on Morant, they now are hard capped to the first apron. They have four roster spots to fill, and limited room to do it. They could trade away a few role players, but that would make them have to get cheap replacements that don’t bring the production that the people they dealt would.

The Ja Morant era in Memphis has officially come to an end.
The Grizzlies have been trying to find a trade for Morant for the better part of a year and finally found a deal they liked, partnering with the Portland Trail Blazers, a trade first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The trade shakes out like this:
Portland receives: Ja Morant
Memphis receives: Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
Since owner Tom Dundon bought the Trail Blazers during last season, he has wanted the team to make a bold move, a big splash signing or trade. That is exactly what it is — this is an aggressive swing for the fences, albeit one that carries some risk because of Morant's history of injuries and suspensions.
When he's at his best, Morant is one of the most explosive and entertaining players in the league, the 2020 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star who still averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 ****** ists a game last season.

A year ago, the Memphis Grizzlies initiated a plan to move away from their core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.
Bane was dealt to Orlando last summer, Jackson followed at February’s trade deadline by being shipped to Utah, and now Morant completes the mission, as he's heading to Portland.
Although this feels like the beginning of something more, let’s break it down.
In return for Morant, the Grizzlies received Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, and ... well, that's it.
No draft pick compensation or blue-chip prospect.

Yossi Gozlan: Ja Morant has a 15 percent trade bonus. It would be voided if the trade is executed today or tomorrow. If done on July 6, he would be entitled to a $13 million trade bonus. It would increase his $42.2 million salary to $48.7 million. Jerami Grant ($34.2 million) and Kris Murray ($5.3 million) matches for Morant on that $48.7 million salary. We'll see if he gets the entire amount or waives it.
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Ja Morant has a 15 percent trade bonus. It would be …

The Memphis Grizzlies have plenty of decisions to make. And could it start with star point guard Ja Morant?
Free agency begins on June 30 at 5 p.m. CT, and any trades or deals can officially be consummated on July 6, when the league's moratorium ends.
Memphis must decide on several team options by June 29.
The possibility of additional trades remains as strong as it was before the draft.
In other words, buckle up.

If the Memphis Grizzlies decide this summer is the time to move on from Ja Morant, there may not be a cleaner basketball fit than the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte’s stunning decision to trade LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves signaled a dramatic shift in direction. In return, the Hornets acquired Naz Reid and a significant haul of future draft capital, leaving the franchise with flexibility—but also a glaring vacancy at point guard.
That’s where Morant enters the conversation.
The Hornets have ****** embled one of the NBA’s more intriguing young cores around Brandon Miller and rookie Kon Knueppel. What they don’t have is a lead guard capable of organizing an offense, collapsing defenses and elevating everyone around him. Morant checks every box.
At his best, Morant is far more than a highlight machine. He’s one of the league’s elite paint attackers, an exceptional playmaker in transition and a point guard who consistently creates quality looks for teammates. His ability to pressure the rim would generate cleaner perimeter opportunities for shooters like Knueppel while allowing Miller to operate more naturally as a scoring wing instead of carrying the offense every possession.

The Cameron Boozer era has begun in Memphis.
After selecting the Duke forward No. 3 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23, the Grizzlies have another young piece to add to their core. They also have a new jersey number for the 2026 All-American and ****** ociated Press Player of the Year.
Boozer will wear No. 27 at FedExForum this fall.
He wore No. 12 during his four years at Christopher Columbus High School and during his only season at Duke. But that number is worn famously by Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant.
Boozer said after being drafted that he had to see which numbers were available before making a decision.

Memphis has been buzzing for Cameron Boozer for weeks.
The second the Grizzlies landed the third overall pick in the NBA draft lottery, fans began picturing life with Duke's superstar power forward. More than 1,500 of them flowed into FedExForum on June 23, about an hour before Boozer officially became a member of the Grizzlies.
Cooper Kenney, 21, showed up in a Memphis Sounds-inspired city edition Ja Morant jersey with "BOOZER" magic-markered on blue masking tape over Morant's name.
Foreshadowing? Hmmm.
King Boddie, a 12-year-old rising seventh grader at Soulsville Charter School, found a front-row seat with three friends and offered a spoiler.