Portland Debut and Preseason Lineup
Ja Morant is scheduled to start in his Portland debut during Wednesday's preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors. He will join a first unit featuring Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. [2]
Trade Speculation and Contract Context
Ahead of the season, rival executives have monitored Morant as a potential rehab-and-flip candidate, though league observers note that any significant trade discussions would likely wait until the summer rather than the trade deadline due to his two years and $87 million remaining contract and matching salary hurdles. Morant has played 79 games over the previous three years due to injuries and suspensions. [1]
Sources
- NBA Trade Rumors: Ja Morant, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gobert & More — 2026-10-07T23:59:00+00:00
- Ja Morant News: Starting Wednesday — 2026-10-07T17:50:41-07:00