Ja Morant
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Ja Morant during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in December 2025
Ja Morant has been a constant presence in trade speculation over the past few weeks, but on Sunday, that noise briefly faded into the background.
Back in the lineup after missing time with a right calf injury, Morant looked every bit like his old self, finishing with 24 points and 13 assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic in London.
The matchup marked the NBA’s first regular-season game in London since 2019, and Morant was one of the weekend’s central attractions.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, he appeared relaxed and upbeat, embracing the moment and delivering a reminder of why he remains one of the league’s most dynamic guards.
Ja Morant Addresses Trade Noise Head On
With his name circulating in rumors, Morant was inevitably asked about his future following the game. The Grizzlies made him available to the media, and he did little to distance himself from the franchise that drafted him.
“Anybody in here who knows me knows I’m a very loyal guy,” Morant said. “I got a logo on my back so that should say exactly where I want to be.”
Morant has the Grizzlies logo tattooed on his back, a nod to the organization that selected him second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and built around him as a franchise cornerstone.
Sunday’s performance was his first after missing six games with the calf injury, and he wasted no time making his presence felt. Morant poured in 20 points and 10 assists in the first half alone, controlling the game and energizing the crowd.
“Just being able to play basketball — it’s very therapeutic for me,” Morant said postgame, via TalkSport. “I know what I’m capable of out there on the court and I was able to show that tonight.”
“It was big-time, walking off and representing Memphis is what it’s all about.”
Still, Morant’s night was not without a familiar flashpoint. After knocking down a three-pointer, he celebrated with a Bazooka style gesture, another moment likely to draw scrutiny given his history with controversial celebrations that have previously led to league discipline.
Trade Reality Still Looms for Memphis
While Morant’s play and comments suggested comfort in Memphis, the broader context hasn’t changed.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Grizzlies were, for the first time, open to listening to trade offers for Morant, prioritizing draft picks and young players in return.
Subsequent reporting has painted a sobering picture of the market. Several league insiders have suggested Morant’s value may resemble that of Trae Young’s recent move from Atlanta to Washington, a deal centered more on salary relief than premium long-term assets.
The Miami Heat have surfaced as a potential suitor, but that idea appears to be losing traction. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday that such a move could jeopardize Miami’s long-term flexibility, particularly any future pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“One well-placed league source insisted to me that the Miami Heat should be scratched as a Ja Morant suitor,” Stein wrote. “Even if the terms are favorable, if such a move jeopardizes a future trade run at Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Morant’s contract complicates matters further. He’s under team control through the 2027-28 season and is owed nearly $40 million this year, with that figure rising steadily over the remaining years of the deal.
League consensus continues to suggest that any Morant deal would be driven by pragmatism rather than star power, likely involving salary matching and rotational pieces rather than a franchise altering haul.
“The Grizzlies also remain open to continue on with Morant as a focal part of their retooling,” Charania reported earlier this month.
Based on Sunday’s performance and Morant’s own words, that outcome may be the one he prefers most.