Best of NBA Offseason MOVES Part 2: JA MORANT & Damian Lillard on SAME TEAM, Giannis BLOCKBUSTER trade to Heat, Wemby takes a PAY CUT?!

**Shannon Sharpe** (0:05)
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Ja Morant and the Portland Trail Blazer 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, did he? Yeah, him.
Joe, you like that? Is my mic out?

**Joe Johnson** (0:38)
No, I hear you.

**Shannon Sharpe** (0:40)
Okay. Do you like Ja going to Portland?

**Joe Johnson** (0:43)
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 Scoot.
I thought Scoot 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 he, 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 Jai over there, you gotta be thinking that you're gonna get rid of one of these guys at least. Because I'm saying one, you're probably gonna carry three because, hey, they, two gon start in what, can Scoop play the point? Yeah, we need some insurance.

**Shannon Sharpe** (1:48)
Holiday as a defender.

**Joe Johnson** (1:49)
We need some insurance. We need some insurance, I can't hold your meaning. Maybe Scoop come off the bench, Scoop Henderson come off the bench. Maybe you deal a holiday, because he probably has value and can go play for a championship contender team.
You know, but man, the biggest thing is, Ja gon have to learn how to play without that ball. Okay, Ocho, you got to. You got, he, you gon have to be, because.

**Chad Johnson** (2:16)
I mean, but Dame, Dame, man don't have no problem playing off the ball.

**Joe Johnson** (2:19)
I understand that. Dame, though, he's, Dame is a great catch and shoot guy. He can play off the ball.

**Chad Johnson** (2:24)
Yeah.

**Joe Johnson** (2:25)
But I think they gon take turns, but hell, it's gon be a lot of times. I want to see John 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 Dame over there running, pick and roll or something. You know, you got to be able to mix it up a little bit. You know, be able to cut in there, get you some layups, get you some floaters, catch a couple of lives, 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 gonna cut it. Ain't gonna cut it, bro. You know, you got to get in the lab. I'm talking about, she'll be in there right now tonight.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know.

**Shannon Sharpe** (3:06)
Like just like last year.

**Chad Johnson** (3:09)
Yeah.
Hey, Uncle Joe, I'm happy. I'm happy he's gone. Obviously, you know, my, my, my.
I was wanted him, you know, down here in Miami. I think as far as leaving Memphis and having a reset, 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 knowing where their players are at all times. I think Portland is a good place. It's a good place. It's not, it's not too fast. It's a good city.
And for him to have a restart on this... It ain't fast at all. Yeah. For him to have a restart on this 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 that he can take up on his wing and, you know, show Young Bull 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, you know, what he does. He put up a post on his Instagrams about, you know, those that have counted him out. You know, so I'm curious to see the bounce back.