Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is among one of the biggest names and most established talents who’s been thrown around in recent trade speculation. He’s playing far from his best basketball for a Memphis team that looks like it’s going nowhere, and it could be a matter of when rather than if he gets dealt to a new team.
Folks have brought up the Miami Heat as a possible destination for the star guard amid all the drama he’s dealing with on the Grizzlies. Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins said not too long ago that Morant “needs” to head to Miami in order to resurrect his pro career.
The former big man might just be right in the sense that playing for the Heat could result in Morant putting together a successful second act of his career. Let’s break down five reasons as to why the Heat should consider trading for the floor general.
1. He gives the Heat much-needed star power
Simply put, the Heat don’t have anyone on their roster who’s been the definitive best player on a winning team. Big man Bam Adebayo is an elite two-way player and guard Tyler Herro is clearly a gifted offensive talent, but there’s not a lot of evidence to suggest either player can be the top dog on a playoff team.
However, trading for Morant would give the Heat the unquestionable star they’ve been in need of since forward Jimmy Butler was traded. Morant was the straw that stirred the drink for two Grizzlies teams that won 50-plus games earlier in his career.
Most notably, he led Memphis to 56 wins in the 2021-22 regular season and then helped the team give the eventual champion Golden State Warriors all they could handle in the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The Grizzlies were one of only two teams to force a Game 6 against Golden State in that year’s playoffs.
The NBA is ultimately a star-driven league, and if Miami made a move for the point guard, it would have the groundwork set for collective success both now and in the future.
2. All-world playmaker
Point guard Davion Mitchell deserves a whole lot of credit for how well he’s held down the playmaking fort as Miami’s starting point guard this season. He’s averaging a team-high 7.6 assists and has dished out as many as 12 in one game, but Mitchell is ultimately not nearly the proven playmaker Morant is.
For perspective, Mitchell is enjoying far and away the best playmaking season of his career, yet the number of assists he’s averaging is barely above Morant’s career average. Morant has been in the upper echelon of passers since he stepped foot on an NBA court, and his knack for getting to where he wants to on the court is part of what allows him to be a great table-setter.
Another factor in what makes Morant a truly elite playmaker is his vision. He has the vision to thread needles that the majority of players can’t. Folks who’ve watched him on the Grizzlies will know that he often celebrates his prettiest dimes by throwing up the “goggles” sign in a seeming nod to his vision.
A passer of his ilk would only add to the lethality of a Heat offense that has turned heads with its effectiveness thus far this season.
3. His trade value might never be lower than it is now
Just a few years ago, Morant was viewed as one of the premier players in the NBA as well as a superstar in the making. Of course, the consensus view on him is a bit different now, but that fact should make the Heat want to trade for him sooner rather than later.
With the Grizzlies having just recently suspended Morant for one game and him averaging a career-low 30.2 minutes per contest this season, his trade value might be at an all-time low, and he could be more obtainable than ever. Plus, if he starts to find his groove soon and his value on the open market rises as a result, the Heat will maybe be kicking themselves for not pulling the trigger on him sooner.
Morant has had plenty of down performances this season but also has shown enough in spurts to prove that he’s still an incredibly talented point guard. For example, he dropped a season-high 35 points against the New Orleans Pelicans to begin the campaign, and he dished out 13 assists versus the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 7.
Capitalizing on Morant’s ostensibly lower trade value and acquiring him within the month would be a genius move from team president Pat Riley and company.
4. Perfect fit for how Miami wants to play on offense
The Heat have majorly changed their modus operandi on offense in the sense that they’re running and gunning after they played at a slow pace for much of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s time leading the team. It’s clearly paid dividends, as Miami ranks tops in the league in pace and also second in points per game, and there’s maybe no star player who would fit the team’s expeditious offensive style of play better than Morant.
Considering Morant’s great quickness and athleticism, he’s always been a force to be reckoned with in the open court. He averaged the third-most transition points per game of any player in the NBA just last season, and with how much the Heat love to push the pace, Morant would likely get more opportunities than ever before to score on the fast break.
A fast-paced Heat offense with Morant at the helm is something fans of the team should be dreaming about ahead of the trade deadline. It’s exciting to think about just how lethal Miami’s offensive attack could be with the floor general in the fold.
5. Historical significance
Miami has been fortunate to employ a whole lot of effective point guards over the course of its franchise history. From Goran Dragic to Tim Hardaway to Mario Chalmers to Jason Williams, plenty of floor generals have had standout Heat tenures.
But the Heat arguably have never had a superstar talent at the point guard position, and trading for Morant would give them just that.
Maybe he’s not universally considered a superstar at this juncture, but Morant has more than demonstrated that he’s a superstar talent when at his best. Back in the 2021-22 season, he finished seventh in the league’s MVP voting after he averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He earned a spot on the All-NBA Second Team to boot.
Morant would be easily the most talented floor general ever to suit up in a Heat uniform, and if there’s an opportunity for them to trade for such a talent without gutting their roster, they need to make the most of it. It’s not often that a team trades for a player who’s the most gifted at a position in franchise history.