Ja Morant’s Trade Market Is Quiet - But the Grizzlies Are Still Listening
Ja Morant’s name is still bouncing around in trade talks as the NBA deadline passes, but the market for the Memphis Grizzlies star remains tepid. The Grizzlies are open for business - and open to moving Morant - but only if the right deal comes along. So far, that deal hasn’t materialized.
One league source put it bluntly: “Memphis is tearing it down. If they can find an acceptable deal, they’ll take it. They’re motivated to get Ja out of their building and start fresh.”
That’s a strong statement, and it lines up with the Grizzlies’ recent moves. The front office has clearly shifted gears, moving away from a retool and fully embracing a rebuild.
But while Memphis has tested the waters, conversations haven’t gained much traction. Two teams - the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings - remain loosely connected to potential buy-low scenarios.
Earlier in the deadline cycle, the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves also showed some level of interest, but nothing has advanced past the exploratory phase.
Memphis Is All-In on a Rebuild
The shift in Memphis’ approach became crystal clear when they traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. That deal didn’t bring back a co-star for Morant - it brought back picks and prospects. The Grizzlies sent Jackson, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., and Jock Landale to Utah in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three future first-round picks, including a 2027 Lakers first and another 2027 first from a Utah/Cleveland/Minnesota pool.
It was a reset button move, and it came on the heels of another blockbuster: Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony (who was later bought out), four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap.
Put those two trades together, and Memphis has stockpiled a war chest of draft capital - potentially a dozen or more first-round picks over the next seven years. That puts them near the top of the league in terms of future assets.
The message is loud and clear: the Morant-Bane-Jackson core that once powered the Grizzlies to back-to-back No. 2 seeds in the West is no longer the blueprint. Trading Jackson for future picks, rather than pairing Morant with another win-now piece, signaled to the rest of the league that Memphis is moving on from that era.
Morant’s Value: On-Court Talent vs. Long-Term Cost
When he’s on the court, Morant is still producing. He’s averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 20 games this season. But availability has been an issue, and so has the long-term financial commitment.
Morant is in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million rookie max extension he signed in 2022. He’s making $39.4 million this season, and that number climbs to $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28. The deal includes a 15% trade kicker, but no player option or no-trade clause.
That’s a lot of money - and a lot of years - for teams to take on. And around the league, front offices are increasingly cautious about absorbing long-term max contracts, especially with the new CBA’s financial penalties looming large.
Memphis, for its part, isn’t looking to give Morant away. They’re not interested in taking back bad money unless it comes with meaningful draft compensation.
So far, that’s kept talks in the “feeling things out” phase rather than anything close to serious.
Miami Watching Closely - But Waiting on Bigger Fish?
The Miami Heat have been one of the more frequently mentioned teams in connection to Morant, but their eyes may be elsewhere. League sources indicate that Miami is still focused on monitoring the situation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks make him available - now or down the road - the Heat want to be in position to pounce.
That means they have to weigh the cost of pivoting to Morant. His contract, which runs through 2027-28, is a major factor in that decision.
One league source summed it up this way: “You’re committing to several years, and if it doesn’t work, you’re probably carrying that contract until it’s an expiring at least. Most teams would want to be compensated just to take that deal on, whether they believe in Morant or not.”
That’s the challenge Miami is facing - and it’s a big reason why they’ve taken a cautious approach.
Sacramento’s Interest: More Financial Than Basketball?
The Kings have also been linked to Morant, but not necessarily because they see him as a franchise-changing player. Their interest, according to league chatter, is more about the financial structure of a potential deal - a buy-low opportunity rather than a long-term commitment to Morant as a centerpiece.
That kind of interest doesn’t move the needle for Memphis, especially given their stance on not selling low.
The Bigger Picture: A League-Wide Shift
Morant’s situation isn’t just about Memphis or Miami or Sacramento. It reflects a broader trend across the NBA. Even with the salary cap rising, teams are becoming more selective about the kind of long-term money they’re willing to take on - especially when it’s tied to star players with baggage or availability concerns.
Teams are prioritizing optionality, flexibility, and downside protection. That’s made it harder to find homes for big contracts, even for players with All-NBA talent like Morant.
For now, Memphis is content to wait. They’re listening, but they’re not rushing. Unless a team changes its stance and becomes more willing to take on long-term risk, Morant’s name will continue to float in conversations - talked about often, but without a clear path forward.
The clock may have run out on this trade deadline, but the Ja Morant saga is far from over.