NBA Rumors: The new plan of the Memphis Grizzlies with Ja Morant

Ja Morant, a two-time All-Star, was one of the standout names that ultimately did not switch teams during the trade deadline week. However, the decision of the Memphis Grizzlies to keep him on the roster after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. should not be seen as a franchise's change of direction.

According to league sources cited by Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Memphis will resume talks to trade Morant in the summer of 2026, with the intention to move him at that point.

The news aligns with the team's roadmap. The Grizzlies have amassed seven first-round picks and a first-round swap after the trades of Desmond Bane last summer and Jackson this week, showing their shift towards a reconstruction centered on their young core of Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.

The management in the upcoming months

It remains to be seen how Memphis will handle the point guard's situation in the short term. Morant, 26, is currently sidelined with an elbow sprain, an injury that shouldn't end his season.

With a record of 20-29 and out of play-in positions, the franchise could opt to lose games in the final stretch to improve their draft lottery position. This scenario would involve extending the player's absence beyond the norm. However, the club will need to evaluate that strategy against the option of reintroducing him to the rotation to try to enhance his market value for the summer.

Among the concerns of potential suitors are his availability, attitude, and decline in production. Added to this is his maximum contract, which will earn him $87 million over the two seasons following the current one, another factor that provokes caution. A strong finish to the season wouldn't erase all these doubts, but it could enhance the offers for the upcoming offseason.

The proposals received before the deadline were too modest for Memphis, even though the club had been willing to take on long-term salaries if accompanied by better compensation in the form of draft picks.

During this week, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves were linked to Morant. This list could expand or change in the summer, depending on the direction some franchises take and the moves triggered by early playoff eliminations.