Best of NBA News Part 2: Celtics HIGH asking price for Jaylen Brown + Ja Morant TRADED to BLAZERS + What's NEXT for Grizzlies?!

**Shannon Sharpe** (0:03)
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray. Ja 26 played only 79 games in the last three seasons because of off-court issues and injuries since his second consecutive All-Star appearance in 2023 He joined the Young Blazer team fresh off of his first playoff appearance in 2021, headlined by Denny. Yeah, him. Or be ya. Joe, you like that?
Is my mic out?

**Joe Thomas** (0:36)
No, I hear you.

**Shannon Sharpe** (0:38)
Okay, do you like Ja going to Portland?

**Joe Thomas** (0:42)
Yeah, I mean, I guess I'll get Ocho. You know, for me, when you think about it, no team carries four point guards. So you got Morant, Dame, Holiday, and School.
I thought School Henderson showed a lot of growth and maturity in his game throughout the postseason, especially in that series against the Spurs. I know they only won one game, but hell, he played a pivotal role in winning that game too, in San Antonio. Them first two games, he looked like you might have had something as in Portland. And then after that, he was kind of, you know, non-existent, but I thought he showed flashes that, you know, you'll still continue to take chances on the young man, because I think he got potential to be pretty damn good, honestly.
But with bringing Jav over there, you got to be thinking that you're going to get rid of one of these guys, at least. Because I'm saying, one, you're probably going to carry three, because, hey, two going to start, and can Scoot play the point? We need some insurance.

**Shannon Sharpe** (1:47)
Holidays are your defender.

**Joe Thomas** (1:49)
We need some insurance, Ocho, meaning maybe Scoot come off the bench, Scoot Henderson come off the bench, maybe you deal a holiday, because he probably has value and can go play for a championship contender team.
But man, the biggest thing is Ja gonna have to learn how to play without that ball, okay, Ocho? You got to. You got to be-

**Ocho Cinco** (2:15)
I mean, but Dane may have no problem playing with the ball.

**Joe Thomas** (2:18)
I understand that. Dane, no, Dane is a great catch and shoot guy. He can play off the ball, but I think they gonna take turns, but hell, it's gonna be a lot of times. I want to see Ja hit that lane, go catch a lob. Hell, hey, hey, hey. I think he can play off the ball as well, meaning being cerebral as far as cutting to the basket. With his elite athleticism, bro, he just can't be a statue when Dane over there running, pick and roll or something. You got to be able to mix it up a little bit. Be able to cut in there, get you some layups, get you some floaters, catch a couple of lobs. Got to get that three-ball percentage up. You know, we can say what we want, but shooting 20-something percent from the damn three, nine days as a point guard ain't going to cut it, bro. You know, you got to get in the lab. I'm talking about, she'll be in there right now tonight.

**Shannon Sharpe** (3:03)
Yeah, yeah, you know, like just like last year.

**Ocho Cinco** (3:07)
Yeah.
Hey, Uncle Joe, I'm happy he's gone. Obviously, you know, I was wanted down here in Miami. I think as far as leaving Memphis and having a reset, having a mental reset and having a change of scenery. Obviously, I don't think Miami would have been the right place for Ja, even with the infrastructure that the Heat have, as far as, you know, discipline and being able to watch over their players and those inside that organization always know where their players are at all times. I think Portland is a good place. It's a good place. It's not too fast. It's a good city.
And for him to have a restart on his career. It ain't fast at all. Yeah, for him to have a restart on his career, I think he's in a good place and he's around some good people. Obviously, Dane being in the game for a very long time, he's someone he can take up on his wing and show you on board the ropes on how to conduct himself with this fresh start that he's having. So I'm excited for Ja. I'm excited to see what he does. He put up a post on his Instagrams about those that have counted him out. So I'm curious to see the bounce back.

**Joe Thomas** (4:18)
Me too, man.

**Shannon Sharpe** (4:20)
Yeah, hopefully he gets it. Look, if you was around me and I got in trouble, you can't go to Portland.