The Memphis Grizzlies have begun fielding inquiries for point guard Ja Morant and may move him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Charania reports that several clubs have already reached out, and Memphis is weighing whether to keep the two-time All-Star or shift its focus to building around forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and a growing group of young players. Any deal involving Morant would aim to bring back prospects and draft capital, the report states.
Health, Contract and Production
Morant, 26, captured Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and was named Most Improved Player in 2022, earning All-Star berths in 2022 and 2023. His rise, however, has been interrupted by shoulder and other injuries as well as two league suspensions for displaying a firearm in social-media videos. Since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, he has appeared in 68 of 119 games and has not displayed his earlier explosiveness.
Over the past season and a half, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft has averaged 22.1 points and 7.4 assists, while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from beyond the arc—figures below his career peaks. Morant is earning $39.4 million this season and is guaranteed for two more years on a maximum-salary contract.
Locker-Room Issue Sparked Speculation
Trade chatter intensified in the fall after a disagreement over substitution patterns with head coach Tuomas Iisalo escalated into a locker-room confrontation, leading to a team-imposed one-game suspension for Morant. Relations have reportedly improved, yet his long-term fit in Memphis is viewed as less certain because of his salary, injury record and off-court history.
Potential Suitors
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings monitored Morant’s availability earlier in the season, and both clubs remain worth watching, per league insiders. Still, recent indications suggest Minnesota favors point guards on mid-tier contracts, and it is unclear whether Morant aligns with Sacramento’s defensive priorities under executive Scott Perry.
Both Charania and other national reporters have pointed to the Miami Heat as another team that has contacted Memphis about the former All-Star.
Market Context
Memphis is testing Morant’s value shortly after Atlanta moved four-time All-Star Trae Young for a modest package—CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert and no draft picks. Despite Morant’s lower salary and longer remaining term compared with Young, scouts told The Athletic they are skeptical of the trade value for offense-first point guards such as Morant, Young and LaMelo Ball.
Last summer the Grizzlies shipped Desmond Bane to Orlando for four first-round selections, adding to a nucleus that now includes rookies Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells. While Memphis is open to parting with Morant, the team reportedly has no plans to entertain offers for Jackson.
Source: Hoops Rumors
