Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) walks off the court after he hit a game-winning buzzer beater to defeat the Heat 110-108 during the second half of an NBA game at Kaseya Center on April 3, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
While Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant seemingly has interest in joining the Miami Heat, the question is: How much interest does the Heat have in trading for Morant?
There have been preliminary discussions between the Heat and Grizzlies regarding Morant’s availability, according to a league source. Those talks have not yet escalated and a deal is not imminent, with a source characterizing the Heat’s link to Morant as “premature.”
But according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, “Miami has quickly emerged as an attractive option to Morant and his camp in recent days” in the wake of ESPN’s recent report that the Grizzlies are entertaining offers for Morant for the first time during his tenure with the team.
“The Heat have historically been regarded as one of the NBA’s most detail-oriented and structured organizations, a major aspect of development that appeals to Morant, who has missed 34 games due to various suspensions,” Iko reported on Wednesday. “Morant also has a deep respect for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who also runs Team USA; Morant desires to represent his country in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Miami’s veteran presence is an additional selling point and something Morant craves.”
How much would the Heat be willing to trade for Morant?
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the “Grizzlies would prioritize draft picks and young players in return,” but the expectation is the Heat would not want to include any picks or any of its best young players in a potential deal for Morant.
A hypothetical trade that has the Heat dealing away the expiring salaries of Terry Rozier and Simone Fontecchio for Morant would work. But Miami would then have to be willing to take back Morant’s $89 million in additional salary during the next two seasons instead of allowing Rozier and Fontecchio’s contracts to expire this upcoming offseason.
Morant, 26, is on a $39.4 million salary for this season and has two additional seasons left on his contract. He’s due $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million for the 2027-28 season before he can become an unrestricted free agent in the 2028 offseason.
Moran’t production has waned in recent years after being named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year for the 2019-20 season and making the All-NBA Second Team for the 2021-22 season.
Morant is averaging 19.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 21.6% from three-point range in 17 games for the Grizzlies this season. He has been sidelined since Jan. 2 because of a right calf contusion.
Among the 238 NBA players who entered Wednesday with at least 70 three-point attempts this season, Morant has the third-worst three-point shooting percentage.
That’s a big dip from Morant’s lone All-NBA season, when he averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 49.3% from the field and 34.4% from behind the arc during the 2021-22 season.
Morant is also getting to the rim less and not finishing around the basket as well this season. After shooting 66.9% on 7.9 rim attempts during the 2021-22 season, he’s shooting 60.5% on 4.5 rim attempts per game this season.
Morant is eligible to sign up to a three-year, $178 million extension this summer. According to Iko, Morant “is hopeful of securing a max extension by next summer.”
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5.
INJURY REPORT
The Heat’s trio of Davion Mitchell (left shoulder contusion), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (left knee soreness) and Nikola Jovic (right knee soreness) did not practice Wednesday. Tyler Herro, who recently returned from a toe injury and is now dealing with a rib contusion, also was held out of practice as a precaution on Wednesday.
Mitchell hurt his shoulder while trying to run through a screen early in the third quarter of Tuesday’s home win over the Phoenix Suns.
Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) drives passed Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during the first half of a game on Jan. 13, 2026, at Kaseya Center in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Mitchell remained on the court for the next few possessions, and even made a midrange jumper after hurting his shoulder. But during the next stoppage of play, Mitchell was evaluated by Heat trainers before heading back to the locker room with 9:07 left in the third quarter.
“I tried to stay in the game,” Mitchell said Wednesday. “Obviously, after the foul, I had to go get an X-ray. And then when my adrenaline kind of calmed down, I feel like that’s when it hurt the worst. And I was like, ‘Bro, I can’t lift my arm.’ So, I kind of made that decision myself.”
Mitchell said Wednesday he felt “a little bit better than yesterday.”
“I can lift the arm now,” Mitchell said. “I mean, obviously, it’s still in pain, but I’m doing better.”
An MRI was not immediately needed on Mitchell’s injured shoulder, but there could be an MRI if it doesn’t improve in the coming days.
“If I’m still doing worse or the same tomorrow, then we probably would make that adjustment and get an MRI,” Mitchell said.
The Heat has not yet issued its injury report for Thursday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics at Kaseya Center (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun).