Ja Morant might want to stay with the Memphis Grizzlies beyond the NBA trade deadline, but it seems to be worth questioning if the feelings are mutual.
According to a recent update from ESPN's Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are seemingly working the phones to see what's out there for the high-flying superstar guard. With just a few days left before the trade deadline, Morant's spot on the Memphis roster isn't locked.
"Ja Morant is someone that has two years left on his contract after this year. The Grizzlies are continuing to field offers and interest in Morant. There is a chance, definitely, that he moves before the deadline," Charania said on Monday.
The Morant situation with the Grizzlies has gone all over the place. Earlier in the season, it seemed Morant was well on his way to demanding a change of scenery, but the Grizzlies would be hesitant. Once the situation cooled down in the absence of Durant, the Grizzlies were known to be opening their phone lines regarding Morant-focused offers for the first time since drafting the veteran guard.
Morant returned to the court for the Grizzlies with a bang. After his first game back in weeks, the veteran star publicly stated he is loyal to Memphis. For a short period of time, it seemed the situation was resolved. However, the Grizzlies are still moving with a mindset that could land them a trade partner so they could hit the reset button on their franchise.
This year, Morant has appeared in 20 games for the Grizzlies. Seeing the court for 28.5 minutes per game, Morant is making 41 percent of his field goals, while averaging 19.5 points. He is also dishing out 8.1 assists per game.
Prior to his down year this season, Morant has been a 20-plus-point scorer for four straight years. Earlier in his run, Morant was gaining attention as a future MVP candidate while earning two trips to the All-Star game.
It's clear that the Morant-Memphis pairing might be on borrowed time at this point. The chances of Morant getting moved ahead of the deadline haven't been high, but it shouldn't be ruled out. If the Grizzlies want to get started on retooling their roster sooner rather than later, then Morant could end up in a new uniform to close out the 2025-2026 NBA season.
The deadline kicks in at 3 PM ET on Thursday.
Newsweek