The NBA trade deadline came and went with its usual flurry of movement, but one name that stayed put - at least for now - raised some eyebrows: Ja Morant. According to league sources, Morant himself was a bit surprised to still be in Memphis after the dust settled.
The Grizzlies had conversations with several teams, including the Heat, Timberwolves, and Bucks, but nothing materialized. The sticking point?
Memphis wasn’t willing to settle for a return package similar to what Atlanta received in the Trae Young deal.
Let’s unpack that. The Grizzlies are clearly in a transitional phase, shifting gears toward a full-scale rebuild.
So it makes sense they’d be open to moving Morant - but only if the return matched their valuation. And that price tag was steep.
Talks with Milwaukee reportedly included Ryan Rollins, but Memphis balked at the idea of taking back veterans like Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis, both of whom are locked into multiyear guaranteed deals. That tells us Memphis isn’t just looking to offload salary or grab a few rotation pieces - they want long-term flexibility and draft capital.
There had been some indication that Memphis would be willing to absorb longer contracts if first-round picks were attached, but Milwaukee wasn’t ready to part with its lone tradable first-rounder. That hesitation ultimately kept the deal from moving forward.
Looking ahead, the expectation is that the Grizzlies will revisit trade talks involving Morant this summer. The 26-year-old is currently sidelined with a left elbow injury, but there’s optimism he’ll return shortly after the All-Star break.
And that’s a key piece of the puzzle. Even if Memphis is embracing the tank - and let’s be honest, they’d benefit from a higher draft pick - both the team and Morant understand the value of finishing strong.
A healthy, productive stretch run would go a long way in rebuilding his trade value heading into the offseason.
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Ja wasn’t the only Grizzly drawing interest. Jaren Jackson Jr., who was ultimately dealt to the Jazz, was a hot name in the days leading up to the deadline.
In addition to previously reported talks with Golden State and Toronto, the Pistons and Hawks also checked in on the former Defensive Player of the Year. The Suns and Hornets expressed interest as well, but none of those discussions gained serious traction.
Meanwhile, the Bulls were busy stockpiling second-round picks - eight in total - and tried to flip some of that draft capital in a deadline-day push for Pelicans center Yves Missi. Chicago made a run at the promising second-year big man, but New Orleans held firm, reportedly asking for a first-rounder in return. The Bulls weren’t ready to meet that price, and Missi stayed put.
And in Boston, a notable swap - Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic - signaled more than just a roster tweak. League sources viewed the move as a strong indicator that the Celtics expect Jayson Tatum to return before season’s end.
Simons had been Boston’s fourth-leading scorer, but with Tatum on track to rejoin the rotation, his role would’ve been significantly reduced. Swapping him for a veteran big like Vucevic suggests the Celtics are gearing up for a deep postseason run with their full core intact.
So while the deadline didn’t bring fireworks for every team, the moves - and the non-moves - tell us plenty about where franchises see themselves heading. For Memphis and Morant, the story isn’t over. It’s just on pause until summer.