The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly open to listening to trade offers for franchise guard Ja Morant, a development that could reshape the NBA trade market.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported that multiple teams are interested and that Memphis would be looking for draft picks and young players in return. You can follow ongoing NBA reporting via ESPN’s NBA hub.
Even with trade interest building, the Grizzlies are also said to be willing to keep Morant if they don’t get the kind of return they want.
Potential fits being discussed
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor highlighted the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings as potential trade fits. (This is still early-stage chatter, not a finalized list of destinations.)
Availability is the biggest question
The on-court talent has never been the issue — staying on the floor has. This season, Morant has played in 19 games and has missed the last three with a right calf contusion. He has also been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Morant has not played more than 65 games in a season since his rookie year. In 2023–24, he appeared in only nine games after a 25-game suspension and then a season-ending shoulder injury.
When he does play, Morant remains productive, averaging 19.0 points, 7.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds this season.
Memphis weighing different team-building paths
The Grizzlies are 16–21 and reportedly considering multiple approaches to building their roster. One path is leaning more heavily into Jaren Jackson Jr., the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson is averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season.
Another path focuses on the young players who have stepped up during Morant’s absences. Rookie first-round pick Cendric Coward is averaging 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Second-year players Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer have also each averaged over 12 points per game. Edey last played on Dec. 7 after suffering an ankle injury.
A franchise that has shown it will make big moves
Memphis has already shown a willingness to pivot quickly. Last season, the Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins and promoted assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo just nine games before the playoffs.
In the offseason, the team moved Desmond Bane in a deal that brought back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony, plus four unprotected first-round picks and a future pick swap.
What happens next
For now, the Grizzlies appear to be keeping their options open. If trade talks accelerate, Morant would instantly become one of the biggest names to hit the market in years — and any deal would have ripple effects across the league.
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Source coverage: Yahoo Sports
