With just over a week to go before the NBA trade deadline on February 5, Ja Morant’s name continues to echo through league circles. But if you're penciling in the New Orleans Pelicans as a possible landing spot, you might want to scratch that out. According to veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, the rumored link between Morant and the Pelicans doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Stein made it clear in a post earlier this week that there are no discussions happening between Memphis and New Orleans when it comes to Morant. Despite the noise, the Grizzlies and Pelicans aren’t talking shop about a potential deal for the explosive guard.
That’s significant because Morant’s future in Memphis has been the subject of constant speculation. The Grizzlies are clearly listening to offers, but they’re also walking a delicate line - trying to balance the business side of the league with the emotional weight of potentially moving the most electrifying player in franchise history.
In his latest column, Stein emphasized that Memphis isn't just looking to offload Morant for a collection of cap-friendly contracts. The bar is much higher. The Grizzlies are reportedly seeking at least one future first-round pick in any deal involving Morant, which tells you how serious they are about getting real value in return.
The comparison floating around is the recent Trae Young trade to Washington - a deal that brought back CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. But Stein suggests that Memphis sees that kind of return as more of a cautionary tale than a blueprint. For a player like Morant, who still holds superstar upside despite a rocky season, the Grizzlies know they can’t afford to make a move that feels like a step backward - especially not with the fanbase watching closely.
As for the Pelicans, Stein was definitive: they’re active in the trade market, but Morant isn’t on their radar. New Orleans is reportedly more focused on young talent like center Yves Missi and remains committed to keeping key wings Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, both of whom have drawn interest from other teams.
Morant’s season, meanwhile, has been anything but smooth. He’s played in just 18 games and is currently sidelined with a UCL sprain in his left elbow - an injury he suffered during a January 21 game against Atlanta. The Grizzlies announced he’ll miss at least three weeks and will be reevaluated in early February.
When he has been on the floor, Morant’s numbers have dipped. He’s averaging 19.0 points, 7.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and one steal per game - solid, but not quite the All-NBA level we’ve seen from him in the past.
His shooting has also been inconsistent, hitting just 40.1% from the field and a career-low 20.8% from three. The silver lining?
He’s knocking down free throws at a career-best 90% clip.
Still, it’s been a turbulent season for both Morant and the Grizzlies. Memphis has dropped three straight and sits at 18-26, 12th in the Western Conference. They’ll try to right the ship Wednesday night when they host the 19-28 Charlotte Hornets.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, are buried at the bottom of the standings at 12-36. They’ve managed to string together a couple of wins, including a 104-95 upset over the Spurs, but they’ve got a tough test Tuesday night against the surging Oklahoma City Thunder (37-10).
As the deadline looms, Morant’s name isn’t going away anytime soon. But for now, any talk of him heading to New Orleans is just that - talk.
The Grizzlies are open for business, but they’re not giving away their franchise cornerstone without a serious return. The clock is ticking, and the league is watching.