Ja Morant Likely Back on Trade Block This Summer
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Point guard Ja Morant was caught off guard when the Memphis Grizzlies kept him past last week’s NBA trade deadline, league sources told ClutchPoints. According to the report, Memphis spoke with the Heat, Timberwolves and Bucks but never neared an agreement because the Grizzlies rejected proposals resembling the package Atlanta accepted for Trae Young.
Talks with Milwaukee included guard Ryan Rollins as a potential return, but Memphis was unwilling to absorb the multiyear contracts of Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis. Although the Grizzlies had signaled they would take on long-term money if a first-round pick were attached, the Bucks were not prepared to part with their lone movable first-rounder.
Memphis is expected to re-engage teams on Morant once the offseason begins. The 26-year-old is recovering from a left elbow injury and is projected to be available shortly after the All-Star break, giving both player and team a chance to boost his market value during the season’s final weeks.
Additional deadline leftovers
Interest in Jaren Jackson Jr. – Before Jackson was ultimately shipped to the Jazz, the Pistons and Hawks contacted Memphis about the forward, while the Suns and Hornets also expressed interest, ClutchPoints reported. No substantive progress was made with any of those clubs.
Bulls chased Yves Missi – Chicago attempted to flip some of the eight second-round picks it amassed before the deadline to New Orleans for second-year center Yves Missi. The Pelicans insisted on a first-rounder and chose to keep Missi when that price was not met.
Celtics signal confidence in Jayson Tatum – Boston’s decision to exchange Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic was viewed by league insiders as evidence the club expects Tatum to return before season’s end. Simons, the team’s fourth-leading scorer at the time, would likely have seen reduced minutes once Tatum is healthy.
Source: Hoops Rumors
