Minnesota Makes Initial Inquiry Into Ja Morant Availability
minnesota-inquires-about-ja-morant-trade
The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached out to the Memphis Grizzlies to gauge whether a future trade for guard Ja Morant might be possible, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Krawczynski characterized the call as purely exploratory and noted that serious negotiations could emerge if Minnesota is still searching for a long-term answer at point guard by December. Morant, 26, is earning $39.5 million this season, complicating any potential swap because the Timberwolves are operating under first-apron restrictions and cannot send out more salary than they receive.
Speculation about Morant’s future intensified nine days ago after a halftime confrontation with head coach Tuomas Iisalo during a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Morant was suspended for one game, returned to action, and the atmosphere has since cooled, though reports indicate underlying tension remains. Memphis, however, is not actively shopping the two-time All-Star and hopes to mend the relationship.
Minnesota’s interest stems from an early-season void at point guard. Veteran Mike Conley, 38, has primarily come off the bench and is posting career-low averages of 6.5 points and 3.9 assists. As a result, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have handled much of the playmaking workload.
For now, talks between the teams remain informal, and no trade framework is believed to be on the table.
Source: Hoops Rumors
