Ja Morant traded to Trail Blazers

Terms: the Portland Trail Blazers receive Ja Morant in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray

This was undoubtedly the biggest news of the day. It's not surprising that the Grizzlies wanted to part ways with the two-time All-Star guard. Hell, ESPN even said that Memphis has "aggressively explored trading Morant" since the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline. But the return that they got for the former number-two overall pick was pathetic. Even in a down year, Morant averaged over eight assists and almost 20 points per game at the age of 26. He’s just now entering his prime. Surely, Memphis could've gotten back more than a 32-year-old Jerami Grant and a forward who averages fewer than 5.5 points per game. The relationship between Morant and the Grizzlies needed to end, but at what cost? Memphis' general manager looks like a fool after completing this trade.

On the other side, the Trail Blazers get a potential franchise player who can still be a perennial All-Star IF he stays out of trouble. After all, we're just a year removed from Morant averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game on 45.4% shooting. Morant has tremendous upside and could be the face of the Trail Blazers for the next five years. However, that is entirely dependent on whether or not he changes his attitude and lifestyle off the court.

In the meantime, Portland has an embarrassment of riches in the backcourt, with Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and now Ja Morant. The Trail Blazers will undoubtedly cut ties with at least one of those guys. In all likelihood, it'll be a veteran like Lillard or Holiday. Considering Lillard is one of the most beloved players in franchise history, it would not be shocking to see Jrue Holiday traded elsewhere. But, they're not going to trade both Lillard AND Holiday because Portland can't put all of its eggs in the Ja Morant basket since the guy has only appeared in 79 games over the last three seasons. The Trail Blazers should consider keeping a 20-point-per-game player like Damian Lillard in case Morant continues to deal with injuries and other issues.

Memphis Grizzlies' grade: D

Portland Trail Blazers' grade: B+

Andrew Wiggins returning to Heat for three years

Terms: three years, $64 million

Wiggins opted out of his $30.2 million player option for the coming season and added another two years and $34 million to his deal with a new player option for the 2028-29 season. This will keep him in Miami for the next three years.

This was an expected move. The Heat need to keep their key role players and other starters, and Wiggins will likely be a big part of Miami's plans when you realize he's the third-best player on the team. Unfortunately, there will be a price to pay with this deal because it will also probably lead to the departure of starting guard Norman Powell in free agency, who will be too expensive for the Heat to retain.

Grade: C

Landry Shamet re-signs with Knicks on four-year deal

Terms: four years, $24 million

Landry Shamet was one of the most important contributors to the Knicks' championship run. He averaged over nine points per game during the regular season and was one of the most efficient three-point shooters on the team in the playoffs, going 47.5% from beyond the arc. He was going to get a new contract this off-season; It was just a matter of where.

I originally graded this a C- because I believed the Knicks were rewarding Shamet for being a fan-favorite player during the playoff run. But as you look more into the numbers, it's clear that Landry Shamet plays a pivotal role in New York. He was seventh on the team in playoff minutes and regular-season minutes. He's not the most amazing scorer, but he provides relief for both Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. And for just $6 million a year, this is a solid deal for a good role player.

Grade: C+

Pistons bring back Kevin Huerter with three-year extension

Terms: three years, $27 million

This is... questionable to say the least. This is the opposite of the Landry Shamet situation. As you look more into this deal and the contributions Heuter made to the Pistons last season, you hate the contract more and more.

Heueter is supposed to be a sharpshooter, but he has been bad from beyond the arc in recent years. Ever since the 2022-23 season with the Sacramento Kings, where he made 40.2% of his three-pointers, he has only shot 33.6% from deep. He's also coming off the worst three-point shooting season of his career and was a complete non-factor in the postseason, averaging 9.2 minutes and 1.2 points per game.

We all know that it's not fair to judge contracts on what guys have done for you. Players receive contract extensions because of what you are expecting them to do. That said, there's no reason to believe that Kevin Huerter will return to sharpshooting form, especially on a team that already lacks difference-makers along the perimeter.

Grade: D

Julian Champagnie agrees to three-year, $45 million extension with Spurs

Terms: three years, $45 million

What an awesome redemption story Champagnie has been. He was originally cast aside by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 so that the team could sign Mac McClung to participate in the NBA dunk contest. Eventually, he was picked up by the Spurs, where he was signed to multi-year deals that equated to $3 million annually. But after his tremendous playoff performance, he was awarded a deal that has an average annual value of $15 million, showing that hard work and patience pay off.

Julian Champagnie is incredibly important to San Antonio's roster construction. Remember, he was basically the team's starting power forward, even though he's only 6'7". He also proved that he can play well when the lights shone the brightest, since his points per game, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage all improved from the regular-season to the playoffs. Champagnie is just beginning to reach his physical and mental prime, so the Spurs locked him down with a contract that is not gaudy by any means. He probably could've made $20+ million per year if he tested out free agency. But he's committing to the team that stuck with him, which proves that he's loyal as well.

Grade: A-

Warriors give Kristaps Porzingis two-year extension

Terms: two years, $40 million

The Warriors had no choice but to extend Porzingis. He could've raked them over the coals as the only other reliable big man on the roster outside of Al Horford now that there's a possibility that Draymond Green leaves the team in free agency. But Porzingis took a reasonable deal that will allow Golden State to pursue other big-name players through trades and free agency.

This contract grade depends entirely on Kristaps Porzingis' availability on a nightly basis. We don't have to worry about his production because Porzingis has averaged 28 minutes, 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game over the last three seasons. His problem has been staying healthy. Ever since he played in 65 games for the Washington Wizards during the 2022-23 season, the number of games he has appeared in each year has decreased season after season. Hell, the guy only played 15 games for Golden State this year!

At the end of the day, though, Porzingis doesn't need to be healthy during the early part or middle of the season; he needs to be healthy at the end of it. If he helps the Warriors make a playoff push and a run at the NBA Finals, then nobody will care that he's making $40 million over the next two years.

Grade: B

Jusuf Nurkic re-signs with Jazz for two years

Terms: two years, $22 million

I have no qualms with Jusf Nurkic. He's a really good rotational player who almost averages a career double-double while making 50% of his shots.

How many big men do the Jazz really need? Last off-season, they traded for Nurkic and Kevin Love even though they already had Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, and former first-round pick Kyle Filipowski on the team. Then, they made another trade in the middle of the season for Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. Now, they're extending Nurkic, but plan on letting Walker Kessler go in free agency after he just averaged a double-double for them last season? I would've preferred they extend the younger and taller Kessler, even if it would've cost them more money annually. Ace Bailey and Darryn Peterson are both on rookie contracts, so Utah could've afforded to pay Kessler way more than Nurkic.

Assuming Jaren Jackson Jr. slides into the center spot and Lauri Markkanen plays at the four, then I can wrap my head around this move. But if the Jazz let Kessler walk just to turn around and sign another center in free agency who will start ahead of Nurkic, then this contract looks terrible.

Grade: C-