NBA Rumors: The first teams to position themselves for Ja Morant

After months of rumors, obvious signs, and a growing tense atmosphere, the Memphis Grizzlies have finally acknowledged that they are willing to entertain offers for Ja Morant. The talented yet controversial point guard is no longer untouchable in Tennessee.

According to Shams Charania, "various teams" have shown interest in the two-time All-Star, and rival executives understand that Memphis is mainly seeking young prospects and draft picks in return. Charania himself emphasizes that this is the first time the Grizzlies have officially sat down with other clubs to discuss a possible transfer involving the 2019 draft's number two pick.

Morant, 26 years old, has only been able to play 18 games this season due to injuries and an internal team suspension. In those games, he averages 19.0 points and 7.6 assists in 28.3 minutes, though with his career-worst shooting percentages: 40.1% from the field and a very low 20.8% from three-point range.

Not everyone is convinced that there is a real bidding war for the point guard. Analyst Irwin openly wonders who would be willing to offer something valuable for him: "He can't stay healthy, has publicly stated that he won't do many of the things that made him special anymore, and is more likely to be suspended than to win you a playoff series. And on top of that contract?"

His physical problems are compounded by disciplinary issues. This season alone, he was suspended by the Grizzlies after a verbal altercation with his coach, and the NBA has already penalized him twice for gun-related incidents.

Teams Already in the Mix

Nevertheless, several destinations are beginning to emerge. Kevin O’Connor from The Ringer identifies Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings as contenders. Miami and Sacramento fit the bill of potential suitors. The Heat are seeking a star point guard to lead their project and have attractive young assets to offer, such as center Kel’el Ware and Sixth Man candidate Jaime Jaquez Jr. On the other hand, the Kings could put forward veteran heavyweights like Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, or Zach LaVine.

In Minnesota, the situation is more intricate. Their top journalist, Jon Krawczynski, explains that "the Wolves will always be linked to any available point guard, but in Ja's case, the salary aspect makes it very challenging. They would have to sacrifice a lot of depth on a team that is performing very well. It's not impossible, but it is very, very complicated."

Morant still has two more guaranteed years on his contract, totaling $87.1 million. This season, he is earning $39.4 million, a figure that, combined with his recent history, adds another layer of difficulty to any transaction. For the first time, Memphis has acknowledged that the future of their superstar is no longer set in stone. Now it remains to be seen if any team dares to take the risk.