The Grizzlies are still open for a Morant deal ahead of the February deadline, but they won't entertain a lower trade return from other teams.
In his latest report, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein revealed that the Memphis Grizzlies are still open and looking for a potential deal around Ja Morant despite the franchise guard's three-week absence from an elbow sprain.
Memphis Grizzlies / Schedule
There are beliefs that Memphis might lower its asking price for Morant. But Stein pushed back on this notion by noting that the Grizzlies won’t trade Morant for a light return similar to what the Hawks received from the Wizards for Trae Young.
“My sense is that the Grizzlies remain more than open to trade inquiries for Morant … yet also still under pressure to get more in return for Memphis' runaway most popular player than the two team-friendly contracts (CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert) that Atlanta settled for in the Young trade,” Stein wrote.
Injury history and negative off-court conduct are several key factors in the low trade demand around Morant.
Morant only played 20 games this season, and he was infamously suspended for one game last November after clashing with head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
Should Morant remain in Memphis — which he desires after pledging his loyalty to the Grizzlies — Stein revealed that it might still cause drama across the organization due to the publicized trade saga, failed extension deal and the guard's relationship with general manager Zach Kleiman.
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