A from-out-of-nowhere stunner here on Monday evening as ESPN's Shams Charania would report that Memphis Grizzlies cornerstone Ja Morant is being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Many already had Ja Morant on their offseason trade radar, with reported interest in a possible Raptors fit tracing back to the deadline, but I don't know if many had Portland as a key suitor. Likewise, Morant's value on the market wasn't exactly seen as garnering a significant return, but merely a two-player return with no picks attached still seems like a pretty low return for the former All-Star.
Nevertheless, that saga is over and an anticlimactic end to the Ja Morant era in Memphis — one that looked very promising once upon a time, but seemingly blew up in smoke just as quickly. Now, he'll be part of an ambitious Trail Blazers core alongside Deni Avdjia, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, and a returning Damian Lillard.
Toronto's potential search for notable point guard upgrades has been a recurring topic in Raptors Nation, although, it might have been dusted under the rug as of late in favor of these hot-button Kawhi Leonard reunion talks.
The Raptors were linked to LaMelo Ball before he got dealt to Minnesota and even had reported interest in Trae Young before he landed in Washington. Ja Morant will be another name they miss out on, but keeping things close to where Morant is landing, it appears Toronto could have an even better target on their radar in the aftermath: Jrue Holiday.
Jrue Holiday should be a key target for the Raptors to explore after Blazers' Ja Morant blockbuster
A few days ago, I explored potential options for the Raptors to consider for their point guard search after striking out on LaMelo Ball, and Holiday was among my top candidates listed. The newly-turned 36-year-old Jrue Holiday is perhaps on the tail end of his NBA career, but as a two-time champion and All-Defense team stalwart in years past — he brings a level of winning culture that Toronto could tap into in their own quest to build a revamped contender.
The lingering question at hand is what it would take for Toronto get him. The Raptors have matchable salaries to move in Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, or Jakob Poeltl. Though, if I had to guess, I'd say Portland would be most inclined to ask for Barrett in a potential Jrue Holiday deal given their surplus of guards.
Now, is that maybe a bit much to ask for after Barrett's star-studded playoff campaign? Maybe a little.
And mind you, for one reason or another, the Raptors haven't even been inclined to move Barrett in their rumored Kawhi Leonard pursuit. The outcome of that massive rumor could be another key factor in this Jrue Holiday fit being a no-brainer. Yes, it might seem a bit bold to go all-in on some older guys like Kawhi and Holiday, but I am very interested in seeing those two proven commodities featured alongside the young talent to build a hungry East threat.
Add us as a preferred source on Google