Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies will keep Ja Morant past the NBA trade deadline, even after league chatter suggested the franchise explored its options. Multiple reports indicated Memphis listened to calls, but nothing close to a deal emerged.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that while teams around the league monitored Morant’s availability, none were willing to make a serious offer, ESPN reports. That hesitation defined the market and ultimately shaped Memphis’ decision to stand pat with its franchise guard.
Why the Trade Market Never Developed
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reported that the Sacramento Kings were the team most frequently linked to Morant, with the Miami Heat also engaged in discussions. Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko later added that Morant and his camp did not view Sacramento as a preferred landing spot, while the Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves ranked higher on their list.
Despite those preferences, Iko reported that Memphis remained focused on doing what it believed served the franchise best. In the end, interest never translated into offers that matched the Grizzlies’ expectations.
Brian Windhorst offered the clearest explanation for why talks stalled. Speaking about the situation, the ESPN insider said Morant carried what executives around the league consider “negative value.”
“I think he’s got, what they call in the league, negative value,” Brian Windhorst said. “What that means is teams were not willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also attached draft compensation.”
That dynamic flipped the leverage entirely. Rather than receiving assets for a former All Star, Memphis would have needed to add picks to move him, a scenario the organization was unwilling to pursue.
Contract, Injuries, and Memphis’ Next Steps
Morant remains under contract through the 2027–28 season and is currently in the third year of a five year, $197 million designated rookie extension. He will also be eligible to sign a three year, $178 million extension this summer, adding another layer of complexity to any trade discussions.
Availability has remained the central concern. Morant has played in just 20 games this season due to calf and ankle injuries, along with a one game suspension. He has not reached 65 games in a season since his rookie year. During the 2023–24 campaign, he appeared in only nine games after serving a 25 game suspension and later suffering a season ending shoulder injury.
On the court, Morant is averaging 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while posting career lows in shooting efficiency. On Jan. 24, Memphis announced he would be reevaluated in three weeks following his most recent injury setback.
Two days before the deadline, the Grizzlies completed a major deal with Utah, sending Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar, and Vince Williams Jr. out in exchange for three first round picks and several rotation players, Yahoo reports. That move created a $28.8 million trade exception, the largest in league history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. While the deal hinted at a possible teardown, Morant ultimately remained off the table.
Morant has publicly stated his desire to stay in Memphis, pointing to a Grizzlies logo tattoo as a symbol of his loyalty. With two years and $87 million remaining after this season, the Grizzlies retain flexibility and could revisit trade discussions during the summer, when the market and circumstances may look very different.