Ja Morant should make Blazers’ Josh Hart trade sting slightly less

Rip City Project argues that acquiring Ja Morant helps ease the disappointment of the Portland Trail Blazers' past trade of Josh Hart to the New York Knicks. The Blazers sent Kris Murray, who was drafted with the pick acquired in the Hart trade, and Jerami Grant to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Morant. Writer Reese Kunz notes that moving Grant's significant contract served as an addition-by-subtraction move for Portland's shooting and payroll.

Through his first two games with the Trail Blazers, Morant is averaging 13.0 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 24.5 minutes per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Kunz believes Morant's early performance shows revitalized play that could improve on Portland's previous seventh-seed finish.