Ja Morant: Height, Salary, Trade Rumors & Career Updates

When a 26-year-old All-Star point guard sees his scoring average drop by nearly six points and teams start circling for a trade, it’s fair to wonder what’s really going on. Ja Morant’s journey from Rookie of the Year to suspension, injury, and a blockbuster deal has been anything but predictable. This article tracks the key updates—salary, trade, performance—and what they mean for Morant’s future.

Morant had played only 79 games across three seasons because of off-court issues and injuries.

ESPN (league sources)

Morant’s 17.9 points per game were his lowest since his rookie season.

Bleacher Report (statistical analysis)

Full name: Temetrius Jamel Morant ·
Birth date: August 10, 1999 (age 26) ·
Height: 6’2″ (1.88 m) ·
Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg) ·
Current team: Portland Trail Blazers ·
NBA draft: 2019, Round 1, Pick 2 (Memphis Grizzlies)

Here is a quick-reference table of key facts about Ja Morant.

What is going on with Ja Morant?

What is Ja Morant’s current team and role?

Ja Morant now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers after the Memphis Grizzlies traded him in June 2025. According to ESPN (leading sports news outlet), Memphis sent Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Morant takes over as the starting point guard, with the franchise betting he can rediscover his All-Star form.

How has his suspension affected his career?

The NBA suspended Morant for 25 games in May 2023 after a second gun-related social media video. Since that suspension, Morant played only 79 total games across the following two seasons because of off-court issues and injuries, ESPN (NBA insider source) reported. The time missed derailed his development and raised questions about his reliability.

The implication: Morant’s availability—on and off the floor—will define his legacy. If he stays healthy and focused, Portland may have a bargain. If not, the Trail Blazers face a year-long audition with a max-contract point guard who has already logged career-low shooting percentages.

Why wasn’t Ja Morant traded?

What were the trade rumors surrounding Ja Morant?

Throughout the 2025-26 season, trade rumors circled Morant, but Memphis held firm. NBC Sports (NBA trade analyst) reported that interested teams saw Morant as a buy-low candidate, while Memphis refused to sell low. The Grizzlies wanted a return that exceeded what Atlanta got for Trae Young, creating a stalemate.

Who won the Ja Morant trade?

When Memphis finally traded Morant in June 2025, the deal sent him to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Opinions differ on the winner. ESPN (league sources) noted that Memphis had explored trades before the previous deadline and found minimal interest—suggesting the return was the best available. Portland, meanwhile, acquired a 26-year-old star whose value had bottomed out.

What is the stupidest trade in NBA history?

While not directly related, historical bad trades—like the Boston Celtics sending the pick that became Kobe Bryant to the Lakers—highlight how a single deal can define a front office. The Morant trade will be judged in a few years, but for now, neither side looks foolish.

Bottom line: Memphis held out for a better return than the market offered, but eventually accepted a package that gives Portland a star with something to prove. The Grizzlies navigated a tricky market without giving Morant away, but the final verdict depends on how he plays in Portland.

The pattern: This trade will be reevaluated once Morant’s performance in Portland becomes clearer over the next two seasons.

What is Ja Morant’s salary?

What is Ja Morant’s contract length and value?

Ja Morant signed a 5-year, $194.3 million rookie scale extension in 2022, which runs through the 2027-28 season. According to Bleacher Report (NBA salary expert), the extension is actually worth $197.2 million. His 2024-25 salary is approximately $34.0 million. At the time of the trade, ESPN (verified contract details) reported two years and around $87 million remained.

How does his salary compare to other NBA stars?

Morant’s $34 million annual salary places him in the top 30 league-wide—comparable to guards like Zach LaVine ($43M) or CJ McCollum ($33M). However, his current production (sub-20 PPG and lower efficiency) makes that number a potential overpay. NBC Sports (salary cap analyst) pointed out that the contract was a major obstacle in trade talks; teams were hesitant to take on $87 million for a player with unanswered questions.

The implication: Portland’s financial bet on Morant will either pay off in All-Star production or become a long-term cap burden.

Why is Ja Morant not as good anymore?

How has his performance changed since his suspension?

The numbers tell a stark story. In 2022-23, Morant averaged 27.4 points per game with 48.7% field-goal shooting. By the 20 games before his trade, he dropped to 19.5 PPG on 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three, per ESPN (game logs). Bleacher Report (statistical analysis) noted his 17.9 PPG overall that season was a career low, with career-low shooting marks of 35.9% from the field and 16.7% from three.

What statistical declines are evident?

• Scoring: Down 9.5 PPG from peak (27.4 to 17.9)
• Field-goal percentage: Down from 48.7% to 35.9%
• Three-point percentage: Down from 35.4% to 16.7%
• Games played: Fewer than 55 games in each of the previous two seasons (Bleacher Report (sports news source))

Who are the 4 NBA billionaires?

For context on wealth in the league: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Junior Bridgeman are the four NBA billionaires. While Morant’s $194 million contract is life-changing, it is a fraction of what the elite earn from endorsements and ownership—highlighting that performance on the court drives off-court value.

The pattern: Morant’s game relied on explosive athleticism and rim pressure. After months of inactivity from suspension and a shoulder injury, his rhythm collapsed. The three-point drop is especially alarming because teams now sag off him, clogging the paint.

How tall was Ja at 14?

What is Ja Morant’s height in middle school?

Ja Morant was about 5’9″ at age 14, according to biographical accounts (no primary source available publicly). He experienced a late growth spurt, eventually reaching 6’2″ as an adult. That late development partly explains why he was not heavily recruited out of high school—colleges overlooked him because of his size and small-school competition.

How tall was Shaq at 13?

Shaquille O’Neal was already 6’7″ at 13 years old, a dramatic contrast that illustrates the extreme early growth of big men. O’Neal reached 7’1″ as an adult, while Morant’s more modest growth is typical for guards.

How tall was Steph Curry at 15?

Stephen Curry was 5’11” at 15 and grew to 6’2″ by his senior year of high school. Morant’s growth trajectory mirrors Curry’s in both timing and final height—both point guards who were undersized in the early teens before hitting average NBA guard height.

The trade-off: Portland bet that Morant’s late growth spurt mirrors a late career resurgence. But the physical tools that made him special—quick-twitch acceleration, body control—may have been partly compromised by the leg injuries and extended time off.

Frequently asked questions

For the Trail Blazers, the gamble is clear: either Morant rediscovers his All-Star form and justifies the max contract, or his career becomes a cautionary tale about the fragility of talent. The next 12 months will reveal whether Portland’s bet was bold or reckless.

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