Who would have thought that Morant and Yang Hansen would end up as teammates?

After waiting all night for Leonard trade updates, we instead got the news of Morant's destination. The Grizzlies sent Morant to the Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Chris Murray.

This is undoubtedly the bleakest star trade of this summer, of course assuming Morant is still considered a star. The Grizzlies barely got any positive assets back; it was just a contract exchange. Grant was also an asset the Blazers had been trying to sell for a long time without success, and Murray was essentially a throw-in.

Earlier reports suggested that if the Grizzlies couldn't offload Morant without attaching assets, they would simply buy out his contract. Then the Trail Blazers stepped in and completed this deal. As of now, the Blazers' move seems quite puzzling.

Unlike the Timberwolves, the Trail Blazers are not short of guards or ball-handlers. Lillard will return next season, and the team already has veterans like Holiday and young backcourt players like Henderson, not to mention a promising Sharpe waiting in the wings.

The Blazers' backcourt was already crowded even without Morant; adding him now is like having enough players for a mahjong game. Moreover, the Blazers are not a team that relies on guards to initiate offense. Last season, the real ball-handler was Avdija, who functioned as a small-scale primary playmaker. Now with Morant, how will they distribute the ball? Should Avdija's ball-handling percentage be reduced? Does last season's system need to be scrapped and rebuilt?

The Blazers' moves are certainly not over yet. The bloated backcourt will inevitably need to be trimmed down. Meanwhile, the previously abundant frontcourt has become somewhat thin. If the Blazers can add a shooting 3-and-D player, the roster would be more balanced.

For the Grizzlies, they have finally ended this ill-fated relationship with Morant. Who would have thought that Bane could fetch four first-round picks, Jaren Jackson Jr. could get three, but for Morant, they couldn't even get a single first-round pick? All members of the 2022 Grizzlies have now left Memphis, like a dream. After waking up, Morant's words "No rivals in the West" still echo in our ears.

Morant was undoubtedly the Grizzlies' absolute core at the start, and the team reached a certain height. However, as his off-court incidents kept piling up, his relationship with the team deteriorated. The Grizzlies no longer gave him a prominent tactical role, and coupled with his frequent injuries, within just two or three seasons, Morant went from being a franchise-level guard to a situation where no one wants to take him on.

Over the past three seasons, Morant has played only 79 games total. Last season, he played just 20 games, averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists, with shooting percentages of 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range. I think not many people still expect Morant to develop a reliable jump shot, but as long as he can play steadily, his driving ability remains a sharp weapon.

It's no exaggeration to say that the Trail Blazers might be Morant's last chance. If he doesn't want to end up wandering on a minimum salary, he must prove his ability and self-discipline again in Portland. He is still under 27, an age when a guard typically reaches his peak. If he fades away like this, it would be a waste of his "King of the Waist" talent.

For Yang Hansen, there's good news today. Since Robert Williams is seeking a $15 million contract, he will likely not stay with the Trail Blazers. That means Yang Hansen will become the team's second center and will have stable playing time next season. Of course, playing time can't rely solely on others leaving; he must earn it himself. At least Yang now has a better environment than last season.

If the Trail Blazers let Morant handle the ball next season, for Yang, the quality of his screens will determine his playing time. Morant is a guard who heavily relies on screen quality. During his time with the Grizzlies, his pick-and-rolls with Adams were very effective, largely due to Adams' wall-like screens.

Yang Hansen's screen quality is actually decent given his physique, but he has a bad habit of using small moves during screens, such as pushing the defender, which easily gets caught by the referees. If he improves his screen quality, Yang won't have to worry about a lack of playing time next season.

How competitive the Trail Blazers will be next season remains to be seen, but at least there will be more points of interest. Hopefully, Yang Hansen can carve out a place for himself in this lineup. After a not-so-successful rookie season, Yang really needs to feel a sense of urgency.