Ja Morant’s name keeps hanging over Memphis, but the market hasn’t exactly rushed to meet the Grizzlies where they want to go. With two years and more than $80 million still left on his deal, and with his availability dinged by injuries and suspensions over the last couple seasons, the path to a clean trade has been anything but simple.
That’s why Memphis may eventually be forced into an uncomfortable reality: if it wants to move Morant and recover some value, it might have to attach draft capital. The Grizzlies have not wanted to go there, but the options are narrowing.
One place that stands out is Phoenix.
The Suns have been searching for a real answer at point guard ever since moving on from Chris Paul, and Devin Booker looks far more comfortable as the two guard. Phoenix gave Jalen Green a look at the spot in the few games he played, but the fit was uneven and the results were too inconsistent to count on.
Morant would give the Suns something different. He brings enough playmaking to ease the load on Booker, and his downhill pressure and finishing ability are the kind of traits Phoenix has been missing. He would also reunite with Dillon Brooks, his former teammate and still a good friend, which could help him settle in faster.
The cleanest version of a deal would be Jalen Green and a pick going to Memphis for Morant and a pick coming back to Phoenix. That kind of swap would let the Grizzlies reset with a player carrying a much smaller cap number.
For Phoenix, the risk is manageable. Green does not appear to be part of the long-term picture, and Morant still offers the higher ceiling. If he can leave the off-court noise behind and stay healthy, the Suns could end up getting a major bargain.
Morant has shifted from a box-office name to a buy-low opportunity, and a fresh start would give him a chance to rebuild both his value and his standing in the league. Phoenix, with its mini-reset and the flexibility it has collected in roster building and draft assets, looks like one of the few teams positioned to make that kind of move happen.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Just Took A Dangerous Turn For One Trusted Piece
Santi Aldama had been positioned as one of Memphis more reliable young pieces, the kind of versatile frontcourt option a team can usually build around without much debate. But the Grizzlies latest roster moves point in a different direction, as the front office added Cam Boozer and Karim Lopez in the first round and then brought in Isaiah Stewart after selecting Richie Saunders, a clear sign that the frontcourt is getting more crowded and more physical.
Aldamas place in that picture is suddenly less certain, even with his strong contract situation and the production he had been posting before a knee procedure interrupted his season. The bigger question now is whether Memphis sees him as part of the next version of this roster or as a player whose fit has become more complicated as the team reshapes itself around size, toughness and interior depth. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Just Made A Quiet Commitment To Part Of Their Future
The Grizzlies have quietly taken a small but clear step toward shaping what comes next by keeping GG Jackson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper on the books for the 2026-27 season. It is the final year of both contracts, but the move signals that Memphis sees real value in two wings who fit the kind of depth and flexibility the roster always seems to need.
Jackson, a 2023 second-round pick, has already shown why the organization is willing to stay patient through injury setbacks, while Prospers path from a two-way deal to a more meaningful role has been built on improvement and versatility. For a team trying to piece together long-term pieces without making a lot of noise about it, this is the sort of decision that can matter later more than it does right now. [Read more 🡒]
Ja Morant Trade Talk Just Put Memphis At A Dangerous Crossroads
Ja Morant trade chatter has a way of turning every Memphis conversation into something bigger, and the latest speculation only sharpens the edge around a franchise already weighing its next move. Morants production has dipped from where it once was, and his injury history has made the last few seasons feel more fragile than Memphis ever expected when it built around him as its centerpiece.
If the Grizzlies were to seriously explore a deal, the conversation would go beyond one player and into a broader reset around younger talent. The framework being discussed points to real salary mechanics and roster construction questions, with Memphis also needing to decide how aggressive it wants to be about a future that could hinge on the arrival of another high-end prospect. [Read more 🡒]