What is the impact the Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Ja Morant, and LaMelo Ball trades on the rest of the NBA?
Stars have shifted alignment in the NBA's ever-changing landscape, with some of the league's marquee players set to shake up the league on their new teams moving forward.
It hasn't been since 2019, when the likes of Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Paul George and Russell Westbrook were traded where we've seen an off-season like this, making it all the more relevant to go through and rank the most league-changing trades.
These rankings will be based on their impact on the league and how they will change the NBA landscape moving forward, rather than on how fair they were to each team.
4Portland goes all in on Morant
Portland Trail Blazers get: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies get: Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
Wildcard is the perfect way to define Ja Morant at this stage of his career and the risk you are willing to take in hopes of getting an All-NBA guard playing back to his best. For the Trail Blazers, it's one risk that they may as well take, seeing as they themselves probably didn't expect to make the playoffs last season.
Deni Avdija and the rest of their young core of Henderson and Camara are still intact, while the potential of a Damian Lillard and Morant backcourt has a ceiling that could elevate the Blazers to conference finals contention. With Deni and Morant being only two years apart in age, re-signing Morant after his contract expires in 2028 and potentially pairing the duo up for three or more years could fast-track their rebuild.
However, on the other side of the trade, all the intangibles take precedence as Morant's availability and care for the game are called into question through his off-court unpredictability, which has led to suspensions in the past. Knowing this, the Grizzlies will be more than relieved to move past the Morant era and officially start their rebuild with the help of a handy role player in Grant.
