TITLE: Limited Interest Emerges as Grizzlies Gauge Trade Options for Ja Morant
SLUG: grizzlies-face-limited-interest-in-ja-morant
CONTENT:
The Memphis Grizzlies may find few takers if they decide to move on from star guard Ja Morant, according to reporting from Zach Harper of The Athletic.
Harper wrote that Memphis, which is exploring possibilities for the 26-year-old two-time All-Star, is encountering a narrow pool of potential partners. He added that the franchise could be looking at offers on par with the “modest” package the Atlanta Hawks received for Trae Young.
Market Constraints
Several factors appear to be limiting interest:
- Roughly half of NBA teams already have a settled starting point guard.
- Among the remainder, many lack either the draft capital or salary-cap flexibility required for a realistic bid.
Harper identified Boston, Minnesota, Milwaukee and Orlando as clubs without the financial leeway or assets to pursue Morant. The Atlanta Hawks reportedly do not plan to chase another lead guard, while the Toronto Raptors are viewed as an awkward fit because of Immanuel Quickley’s long-term deal. The Sacramento Kings are considered unlikely to part with the draft picks Memphis would seek.
Narrow List of Suitors
The most plausible destinations include the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, though each scenario presents complications:
- Chicago remains in search of a franchise centerpiece, but Josh Giddey is entrenched as the primary ball-handler.
- Dallas could look beyond Kyrie Irving while building around highly touted prospect Cooper Flagg, yet Morant’s injury history might deter the Mavericks.
- Brooklyn is early in a rebuild, and it is unclear whether Morant would embrace that environment.
- Miami faces its own roster and cap considerations before committing major assets.
Path Forward
Harper suggested Morant’s best route could be finishing the season strongly to rebuild his market value ahead of a potential summer deal. He also noted that Memphis might already have an offer it would accept and is merely testing the landscape before the trade deadline.
Franchise Direction in Question
Uncertainty extends beyond Morant. On The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon questioned whether forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is fully committed to a complete rebuild. The Grizzlies are 17-22 and hold the final Western Conference play-in spot after trading Desmond Bane to Orlando last summer.
“Their actions are telling you that they’re determined to rebuild the Grizzlies around Jaren Jackson Jr.,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps said on the same podcast. “There’s a lot of discussion around the league wondering if that is mutual.”
The trade deadline — and any decision on Morant — may clarify how far Memphis is willing to reshape its roster.
Source: Hoops Wire
