Three of the NBA’s most electric young guards - LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant, and Trae Young - are finding themselves at the center of early trade chatter this season. All three were once seen as franchise cornerstones, top-five picks with All-Star ceilings and the kind of offensive flair that gets fans out of their seats. But now, just a few weeks into the 2025-26 campaign, their futures with their respective teams are anything but certain.
Here’s the reality: while their names carry weight, the trade market for Ball, Morant, and Young is surprisingly quiet. In conversations around the league, front offices aren’t exactly lining up to make a move.
In fact, some executives are going as far as to say these guards might carry negative value on the trade market right now. That’s a dramatic shift in perception for three players who not long ago were viewed as foundational pieces.
So how did we get here?
Let’s start with the contracts. All three guards are on max deals, which immediately limits the number of teams that can even entertain the idea of acquiring them. Max money means max expectations, and when you’re not producing at a high level - or if your playstyle doesn’t translate to winning - that becomes a problem.
Then there’s the on-court fit. Ball, Morant, and Young are all high-usage players who need the ball in their hands to be effective.
That’s not inherently a bad thing - plenty of stars operate that way - but it does raise questions about how they’d mesh in a new system or alongside another ball-dominant player. Add in the fact that none of the three are known for their defense, and it becomes even harder to envision them as the engine of a championship-caliber team.
Morant and Young have had their moments in the postseason - Morant with the Grizzlies’ 2022 playoff push, Young with his memorable run to the Eastern Conference Finals - but both have struggled to replicate that success in recent years. Ball, meanwhile, is still searching for his first playoff appearance, now in his sixth season. That lack of postseason pedigree only adds to the skepticism.
The financial side of things makes any potential trade even trickier. Moving a max-contract player is never simple, and finding a return that satisfies both sides is a tall order - especially when the player being dealt is seen as a flawed asset.
Some league insiders have floated the idea of these guards being traded for each other - essentially swapping unwanted stars to make the math work. It’s not unprecedented, and it might be the only realistic path if any of them are going to be moved.
With the trade deadline still over two months away, there’s time for things to shift. A hot streak, a key injury, or a desperate front office could change the landscape quickly.
But as it stands, the league seems to be in wait-and-see mode when it comes to Ball, Morant, and Young. Their talent is undeniable, but the questions about fit, efficiency, and long-term value are keeping teams at arm’s length.
These are still young players with plenty of basketball ahead of them. But if a trade does go down, it won’t be because teams are clamoring to build around them - it’ll be because someone sees a reclamation project worth betting on.