Ja Morant's Trade Deadline Silence Raises Big Questions About His NBA Future
The Memphis Grizzlies made waves ahead of the trade deadline-but not the kind many expected. While Jaren Jackson Jr. was the centerpiece of a notable deal, Ja Morant’s name barely surfaced in trade talks.
In fact, according to reports, league-wide interest in the former Rookie of the Year was virtually nonexistent. That silence is starting to speak volumes.
“Ja Morant better wake the hell up. Cause in two years, after this contract, he could find himself out of the league."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2026
- Kendrick Perkins 👀
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/isGYKqxoQz
On Thursday, ESPN analyst and former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins didn’t mince words when discussing Morant’s situation on air. His message? It’s time for Ja to face reality.
“Ja Morant better wake the hell up,” Perkins said. “Because in two years, after this contract, he could find himself out of the league.”
That’s a jarring statement about a player who, not long ago, was being touted as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. But Perkins isn’t pulling that opinion out of thin air-he’s reacting to a stark shift in how Morant is perceived around the league.
Just a few seasons ago, Morant was an All-NBA selection, a two-time All-Star, and a human highlight reel who looked poised to become the face of a franchise-maybe even the league. Now?
Teams reportedly didn’t even pick up the phone.
Perkins continued: “It is disturbing to hear that a guy that went-from Rookie of the Year, All-NBA player, All-Star, a guy on the verge of being the face of the league-and a team can’t trade you. They can’t trade you.
Nobody wants you. If this is not a wake-up call for Ja, I don’t know what else is gonna open eyes.”
It’s a dramatic fall from grace, and it didn’t happen overnight. Morant’s first four years in the league were nothing short of electric.
He won Rookie of the Year in 2019-20 and quickly became one of the most exciting guards in the game. His explosiveness, vision, and swagger helped turn Memphis into a must-watch team.
But the 2023-24 season marked a turning point-and not in a good way.
Morant was suspended for 33 games stemming from two separate off-court incidents involving firearms and conduct deemed detrimental to the league. When he did return, he played just nine games before a labral tear in his shoulder ended his season. Since then, his availability and consistency have both taken a hit.
This season has been another uphill battle. Morant has suited up for only 20 games, and while he’s still shown flashes of the dynamic playmaking that made him a star, the numbers tell a more sobering story.
He’s averaging 19.5 points per game-solid, but a step down from his peak-and his efficiency has cratered. His 41.0% shooting from the field and 23.5% from three are both career lows.
He’s also pulling down just 3.3 rebounds per game, another career low, though his 8.1 assists per game match his best mark to date.
The talent is still there. That much is clear.
Morant can still blow by defenders, thread impossible passes, and ignite a crowd with one jaw-dropping play. But in today’s NBA, talent alone isn’t always enough.
Availability, maturity, and trust matter just as much-especially for a franchise centerpiece.
What’s concerning is that the league seems to be sending a message. When a player with Morant’s résumé doesn’t generate trade interest, it’s not just about stats or injuries-it’s about risk. Right now, too many teams seem to view Morant as one.
The Grizzlies, for their part, appear to be standing by their star-for now. But the clock is ticking. Morant’s current contract runs through the 2027-28 season, and while there’s still time for him to rewrite the narrative, the margin for error is shrinking.
For Ja Morant, the next chapter isn’t just about getting healthy or putting up numbers. It’s about regaining the trust of his team, the league, and maybe even himself. Because if the trade deadline silence is any indication, the league has taken notice-and it’s waiting to see what happens next.