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MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Pat Riley speaks to media at Kaseya Center on February 09, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat have surged to the front of the Ja Morant sweepstakes, emerging as the preferred destination for the Memphis Grizzlies star as trade talks intensify ahead of Thursday’s NBA deadline.
Ja Morant Identifies Miami Heat as Preferred Trade Destination
According to Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints, the Sacramento Kings have explored the possibility of acquiring Morant, but league sources say the All-Star guard has no interest in a move to Sacramento.
Instead, Morant and his camp have zeroed in on Miami.
“Ja Morant is not interested in a trade to Sacramento,” Azarly reported. “Morant and his camp have the Miami Heat as his preferred trade destination.”
While player preference does not dictate final outcomes, it has clearly reshaped the landscape, placing Miami squarely at the center of the Morant market.
Heat Pivot Back to Morant as Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks Stall
Miami’s renewed push gained momentum once its pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo began to cool.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Heat re-entered Morant discussions after it became increasingly unlikely that Milwaukee would move Antetokounmpo before the deadline.
“The Heat, who league sources indicate are no longer at the forefront of Giannis trade talks before Thursday’s deadline, are attempting to trade for Grizzlies’ Ja Morant,” Siegel reported Wednesday. “There is a belief the Heat can pull off a Trae Young-like deal for Morant.”
The pivot marked a decisive shift in Miami’s strategy, redirecting its resources toward a younger star whose availability has grown more realistic as the market evolves.
Miami’s Longstanding Interest in Ja Morant
GettyJa Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Heat’s interest in Morant predates the current deadline drama.
NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that Miami had held internal discussions about Morant as early as December, even before Antetokounmpo’s name resurfaced in trade conversations.
“Miami was already shaping into a surprising buyer on this trade market,” Fischer reported at the time. “League sources say the Heat have had internal discussions about Ja Morant and how Miami’s infrastructure could benefit him.”
Those talks paused when the Grizzlies’ asking price remained high and the Milwaukee Bucks began fielding offers for Antetokounmpo. But with Milwaukee finding the proposals underwhelming and showing little urgency to move its franchise star, Miami has refocused its efforts on Morant.
Grizzlies’ Full Rebuild Changes Morant’s Trade Value
Morant’s availability is tied directly to Memphis’ decision to embrace a full-scale reset.
The Grizzlies recently traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks, following last summer’s deal that sent Desmond Bane to Orlando.
Together, those moves netted Memphis seven first-round selections and cleared roughly $300 million in long-term salary commitments. The result is a franchise no longer under pressure to maximize immediate return on Morant’s contract — a shift that has opened the door to more creative trade constructions.
Brian Windhorst: Morant Now a Buy-Low Opportunity
ESPN insider Brian Windhorst explained Wednesday on Get Up that Memphis’ leverage has fundamentally changed.
“They can now shift if they want, instead of trying to trade him for value, to trying to trade him and use him basically as money in a contract,” Windhorst said. “They would take on future money to get assets.
“This is an opportunity for somebody not only to buy low on Ja Morant, but also to offload toxic assets as part of getting Ja Morant,” he added. “This is a player who is potentially a steal, but there’s a lot of baggage that comes along with it.”
That framework has fueled Miami’s belief that it can land Morant without surrendering the type of draft haul typically required for a player of his caliber.
Grizzlies Hold Final Say Despite Morant’s Preference
Even with Morant’s desire to land in South Beach, the decision ultimately rests with Memphis.
Azarly later reported that while the Heat have done extensive due diligence, the Grizzlies are prioritizing return over player preference.
“The Miami Heat have done their homework on Ja Morant and there’s a belief that the guard will be focused and a good fit in their organization,” Azarly wrote. “The Grizzlies, I’m told, aren’t necessarily working collaboratively with Morant and will trade him to where they get the best package.”