The Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant for the first time, sources told ESPN, as the team looks to reshape its roster before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Morant, 26, has been a cornerstone for the Grizzlies since being drafted second overall in 2019, but recent struggles have prompted the shift. The guard is averaging 19 points per game this season—his lowest since his rookie year—while shooting career lows of 40% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc. He has been injured more than he has played this season.
The decision comes amid a backdrop of injuries, suspensions and off-court issues that have limited Morant to fewer than 40% of Memphis’ games since his back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman emphasized last summer that Morant needs to return to consistent All-NBA form for the team to contend, but clashes with first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo and perceptions of waning motivation have fueled trade speculation. Instead of extending Morant, Memphis committed $240 million over five years to forward Jaren Jackson Jr., signaling a potential pivot.
Rival executives believe the Grizzlies would seek draft picks and young players in any deal for Morant, who remains under contract through the 2027-28 season at $44.9 million in the final year. Multiple teams have shown interest, with the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings among those to watch, according to league insiders.
Morant’s athleticism has waned, with attempts at the rim dropping to 15.4% of his shots this season—less than half his career average—leading some executives to label him as having “negative value” due to injury risks and performance dips reminiscent of Derrick Rose and John Wall.
Given the recent trade of Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert—a return widely viewed as underwhelming—Morant’s current trade value appears similarly depressed. NBA insiders suggest Morant holds slightly more value than LaMelo Ball but less than Young due to reliability concerns, with scouts noting the league’s shift away from small, defensively challenged point guards on max contracts. In my assessment, his value might equate to a protected first-round pick, a young prospect with upside, and salary-matching filler, though some rival executives believe Memphis could need to attach assets to offload his deal amid limited market interest. Still, at his age, a change of scenery could reignite the dynamic play that once made him a league sensation.
