Ja Morant’s rocky tenure with the Grizzlies could be coming to an end soon.
The Grizzlies are “entertaining offers to potentially move” Morant ahead of the February 6 trade deadline, according to ESPN (all times AEDT).
It’s the first time that Memphis has at least listened to potential deals, the outlet added, and multiple teams are reportedly interested in the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
At his best on the court, Morant is a two-time All-Star who won Rookie of the Year in 2019-20, earned Most Improved Player honours in 2021-22 and guided the Grizzlies to playoff appearances in four of the last five seasons.
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Morant has averaged 19.0 points and 7.6 assists per game this season, but his shooting percentage has dipped to career-low marks from the field (40.1 per cent) and from behind the 3-point arc (20.8 per cent) and he’s appeared in only 18 of a possible 37 games due to various injuries.
The 26-year old is signed through the 2027/28 season on a five-year, $197 million deal (AUD $294 million). He’s eligible to sign a three-year, $178 million extension this off-season.
Morant’s NBA career has also been filled with off-the-court drama, as he was suspended twice for incidents involving social media and videos where he flashed firearms.
Initially, Morant was suspended for eight games in March 2023 after going on Instagram Live and recording a video of himself brandishing a firearm at a Denver-area strip club.
After another video in May where he flashed a gun while in a car, though, the NBA suspended him for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 campaign.
Morant was also suspended one game in November for criticising the Grizzlies’ coaching staff in an interview following a loss.
When asked what went wrong after falling to the Lakers, Morant responded with, “Go ask the coaching staff.
Then, when asked about his other thoughts, Morant said, “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after.”
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The 16-21 Grizzlies are 10-9 without him this season and 6-12 with him. They currently sit in the West’s final play-in spot and have the 10th best lottery odds ahead of a stacked 2026 draft class.
The Athletic reported in November that the Timberwolves and Kings could emerge as suitors for Morant, and if Memphis — which sits 10th in the Western Conference at 16-21 entering Saturday’s games — ends up trading him, it’d mark their second blockbuster since June.
Star guard Desmond Bane was also sent to the Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap.
The report states Memphis is “considering multiple paths forward” and the potential of building around its young core of Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer, as well as Jaren Jackson Jr, while the team is “open” to continuing with Morant as a key piece in its retooling.
It could be the second big NBA trade domino to fall after Atlanta dealt All-Star guard Trae Young to Washington this week.
-This story first appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.
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