NBA Rumors: The Grizzlies begin negotiations to trade Ja Morant!

The Memphis Grizzlies are willing to entertain offers for Ja Morant and are seriously considering the possibility of moving the star point guard before the market closes on February 5. This is reported by Shams Charania of ESPN, who states that several franchises have already shown interest and that the management is considering different paths, from keeping the player to trading him to build the project around Jaren Jackson Jr. and the team's young core.

If the Grizzlies decide to negotiate Morant, the goal would be clear: to acquire young players and 'draft' picks. The franchise aims to strengthen its future with long-term assets in case of parting ways with their franchise point guard.

At 26 years old, Morant has been one of the most recognized figures in the NBA in recent years. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved Player in 2022, as well as an All-Star in 2022 and 2023. However, his progression has been hindered by injuries and off-court behavior: he was suspended twice by the league for videos on social media showing a firearm and missed most of the 2023/24 season due to a shoulder labrum tear.

Physical issues have persisted since the start of the 2024/25 season. During this period, he has played 68 out of 119 possible games and no longer displays the explosiveness he once had. Despite averaging 22.1 points and 7.4 assists in the last season and a half, his shooting percentages have dropped to 44.1% from the field and 28.7% from three-point range, far from his best levels.

A Locker Room with Tensions

Speculation about his future increased in the fall when a disagreement with coach Tuomas Iisalo over in-game changes led to a locker room altercation and an internal one-game suspension for the player. Although the relationship seems to have stabilized in recent weeks, his role as a long-term cornerstone in Memphis is no longer as secure as before. His maximum contract, disciplinary history, injury record, and performance decline complicate his fit in the franchise's future.

Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings were already monitoring the Morant situation early in the season, and both Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints) and Kevin O'Connor (Yahoo Sports) believe they remain potential destinations now that Memphis is more open to negotiations. However, a recent report suggests that Minnesota prefers point guards with mid-level contracts over max salaries, and it's also unclear if Morant fits into the defensive vision that Scott Perry wants to implement in Sacramento.

Both analysts also mention the Miami Heat as a possible suitor, with Siegel mentioning that Miami already reached out to the Grizzlies in the fall.

A Challenging Market for Scoring Point Guards

Memphis will gauge the market shortly after Atlanta traded Trae Young—a four-time All-Star—for a modest return consisting of CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, and no draft picks. Morant earns less than Young this season (39.4 million dollars) and has two guaranteed years remaining, but scouts and executives question the trade value of scoring-focused point guards. "Ja, Trae, and LaMelo Ball aren't as valuable because the game has changed around them," explained a scout to The Athletic recently.

Last summer, the Grizzlies reshaped their roster by sending Desmond Bane to Orlando in exchange for a package with four first-round picks. Although the team is still led by Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the front office has built a promising young core with players like Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells. However, Siegel reports that the franchise has no intention of including Jackson in potential negotiations, even if they ultimately decide to move Morant.