BREAKING: Memphis Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant to Lakers in Blockbuster Deal for Luka Dončić, Four Unprotected First-Round Picks, and Pick Swap
June 19, 2025 — NBA World Stunned
In what may go down as the most shocking trade in NBA history, the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers have pulled off a blockbuster megadeal: Ja Morant is headed to Los Angeles, while Luka Dončić is now a Memphis Grizzly.
🚨 Trade Details:
- To Los Angeles Lakers:
- Ja Morant (2x All-NBA, 3x All-Star)
- To Memphis Grizzlies:
- Luka Dončić (4x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-Star)
- 2026 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2028 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2030 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2032 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2031 1st-round pick swap rights
🎙️ Instant Reaction:
NBA executives
BLOCKBUSTER NBA TRADE: Ja Morant Traded to Lakers for Luka Dončić, Four Unprotected First-Round Picks, and One Pick Swap
By NBA Insider Report – June 19, 2025
In a jaw-dropping transaction that has sent shockwaves across the basketball world, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies have finalized what is already being hailed as one of the most monumental trades in NBA history. The Lakers have officially acquired Ja Morant, while the Grizzlies are sending Luka Dončić to Memphis in exchange for a haul of four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap.
The trade marks a seismic shift in the league’s power structure and signals a new era for two franchises desperate to reshape their futures—and redefine their identities.
🔁
Full Trade Details
Lakers receive:
- Ja Morant (3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA)
Grizzlies receive:
- Luka Dončić (5x All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team)
- 2026 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2028 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2030 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2032 unprotected 1st-round pick
- 2031 first-round pick swap rights
💣 A Shocking Move from Both Sides
Sources say the blockbuster came together rapidly over the past 48 hours, with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and Grizzlies President Zach Kleiman engaging in deep talks that only recently became public. League insiders were stunned by the suddenness of the agreement, especially given Dončić’s long-term contract and franchise-player status in Memphis since being acquired via trade in 2018 on draft night.
“No one saw this coming,” said ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “Two of the league’s most talented—and marketable—young stars just swapped jerseys in a deal that alters the NBA’s landscape overnight.”
💜 Ja Morant Heads to Hollywood
Ja Morant, known for his electrifying athleticism, acrobatic finishes, and swagger on the court, will now join the historic ranks of Lakers point guards, following legends like Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant. The 25-year-old averaged 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.9 rebounds last season in just 42 games after returning from suspension.
His arrival brings a burst of youth and star power to a Lakers team still recovering from LeBron James’ recent retirement and looking to build around Anthony Davis and new head coach J.J. Redick.
“Ja Morant is the kind of player who brings L.A. back into the championship conversation immediately,” said one league executive. “He’s made for the bright lights.”
Off-court, Morant’s star power fits naturally with the Lakers’ glitz and entertainment-driven environment. The franchise is banking on his marketability and elite athleticism to carry them into the next era.
🔥 Luka Dončić Begins a New Chapter in Memphis
On the flip side, Luka Dončić, widely considered one of the most complete offensive players of his generation, heads to a Grizzlies team that has long prided itself on grit and grind—but now wants firepower. The 26-year-old Slovenian phenom averaged 32.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.3 rebounds last season and was a finalist for MVP.
While the move may appear lateral on the surface, insiders say Memphis was concerned about Ja Morant’s long-term leadership trajectory and off-court distractions, prompting them to pivot toward a more consistent, floor-general style of superstar in Dončić.
“We are thrilled to welcome Luka Dončić to Memphis,” said Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman in a statement. “His passion, IQ, and leadership will define the next great era of Grizzlies basketball.”
Dončić will now be the focal point of a young, talented core including Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Ziaire Williams, with additional future assets to bolster the roster or fuel further trades.
📊 Who Won the Trade?
Fans and analysts are already debating which team “won” this deal, but most agree the trade was high-risk, high-reward on both ends:
- Lakers: Get a younger, high-flying superstar to anchor their post-LeBron era. But they gave up one of the top five players in the world plus five premium assets.
- Grizzlies: Add arguably the league’s best all-around playmaker and a treasure chest of future picks—providing both a win-now star and long-term flexibility.
“This is a rare ‘blockbuster’ where both teams can walk away happy,” said NBA insider Shams Charania. “It’s a bold move on both ends—and bold is how championships are won.”
🗓 What’s Next?
All eyes now turn to Summer League and Free Agency, where this trade is likely to ripple across player movement and strategy league-wide. Will other contenders now look to counter with major moves of their own?
For now, fans in L.A. are imagining alley-oops and fireworks from Ja Morant under the Hollywood lights. Meanwhile, in Memphis, Luka Dončić jerseys are flying off shelves as the city welcomes its newest superstar.
One thing is for certain: the NBA will never be the same again.
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