Front offices around the league are investigating whether three high-profile point guards—Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets—might be attainable before the NBA trade deadline in February, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks reported after polling scouts and executives.
The responses from those executives were largely negative. “I wouldn’t want any of them,” a Western Conference general manager stated. An Eastern Conference executive added that all three “might have negative value” when salaries, injuries and off-court issues are weighed.
Possibility of a player-for-player swap
Some personnel decision-makers floated the idea that two of the three guards could ultimately be traded for each other, noting that talented but flawed stars sometimes change uniforms in paired deals when both sides seek fresh starts.
Trae Young: elite offense, troubling defense
Young continues to post the strongest offensive numbers among the trio, but his defense remains a red flag. Team data cited by evaluators shows Atlanta’s defensive rating dropping to league-worst levels with Young on the floor and improving to top-five status when he sits. One scout said he would still choose Young over the other two because the guard carries “no off-court baggage,” although questions about Young’s locker-room standing linger. The 25-year-old can reach free agency in 2026 if he declines his player option.
Ja Morant: talent tempered by injuries and suspensions
Opinions on Morant were sharply divided. Certain executives said they would pass on the 24-year-old even at a reduced salary because of what one called “pain-in-the-ass concerns,” citing injuries and league suspensions. Others argued that leaving Memphis could revive his career. “Ja will be fine at his next stop,” one executive remarked, “but Memphis is going to have to move him.”
LaMelo Ball: skill overshadowed by durability and focus issues
Ball drew universal praise for raw ability but criticism for defense, shot selection and health. An assistant coach observed that the 22-year-old “still plays like he’s in high school,” while a Western Conference executive labeled him “unserious.” Another scout acknowledged Ball’s ceiling—calling him “one of the most talented guards in the league”—before adding that every scouting report he writes includes the word “Globetrotter.”
The NBA’s trade market is expected to accelerate once most recently signed free agents become eligible to move on Dec. 15, with discussions likely to intensify as the Feb. 8 deadline approaches.
Source: Hoops Wire
