Ja Morant Stays Put - For Now - as Grizzlies Begin Rebuild in Earnest
The NBA trade deadline came and went, and Ja Morant is still wearing Beale Street blue - at least for the rest of this season. Despite nearly a month of swirling trade rumors and Memphis signaling a full-scale reset, the Grizzlies held onto their star point guard, choosing not to move him by Thursday’s 2 p.m. CT deadline.
That decision comes just days after Memphis made a seismic move that clearly pointed toward a rebuild, shipping Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster eight-player deal. The key return? Three future first-round picks - the kind of long-term capital that suggests this front office is thinking beyond this season and even beyond this current core.
So naturally, eyes turned to Morant. After all, it was the first time since Memphis drafted him No. 2 overall in 2019 that the team was openly listening to offers. That alone was a major shift in posture - a clear sign that no one, not even a two-time All-Star, was off-limits.
But while Jackson Jr. found a new home, Morant didn’t. And that wasn’t for lack of trying on Memphis’ end.
According to reports, the Grizzlies were seeking a sizable return - multiple draft picks and young talent - the kind of package befitting a franchise centerpiece. But the market didn’t bite.
There are reasons for that hesitation. Morant has suited up in just 20 of Memphis’ 49 games this season, battling a string of injuries, the most recent being a UCL sprain in his left elbow that’s sidelined him for the last seven contests. On top of that, he served a one-game team suspension earlier in the year after publicly criticizing the coaching staff following a loss to the Lakers - a moment that raised eyebrows around the league.
So now the Grizzlies are in a bit of a holding pattern. They’re clearly pivoting toward the future, likely eyeing a high pick in what’s expected to be a deep draft class. But Morant remains on the roster - a dynamic talent who, if healthy and motivated, could singlehandedly swing games and, in turn, hurt the team’s lottery odds.
That’s the irony of the moment: if Morant returns and plays well, it could help restore some of his trade value heading into the offseason. But that same resurgence could cost Memphis ping-pong balls in June.
Either way, the long-term picture feels pretty clear. Memphis is retooling, and Ja Morant’s name will almost certainly resurface in trade talks around draft time. For now, though, he stays - a star in limbo on a team that’s already turned the page.