Player movement and trade talk is always a topic of discussion in the NBA, but sometimes you see players mentioned that tend to shock you. After the massive trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks that landed Luka Dončić in L.A. and Anthony Davis in Dallas, no player feels safe in the league from trade talk.
Superstars, role players, fan favorites … no one is safe, especially if teams don’t live up to the expectations that the executives and coaches have for them. With that, this offseason could see some player movement that might surprise a lot of fans.
Ja Morant Could Be a Trade Target This Offseason
The Memphis Grizzlies have had a really successful season this year, as they are currently 36-18 and a top-two seed in the Western Conference. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been amazing for the team, as he’s been available for the majority of the games.
His teammate, Ja Morant, has played in 32 of the 54 games this season, currently shooting a career-low 44.7% from the field while averaging 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. While the Grizzlies are winning games, there is reportedly talk in the league that Morant could be moved in the offseason.
Howard Beck of The Ringer spoke about the possibility of Morant being moved this offseason, especially if the Grizzlies don’t have a successful playoff run:
“I’m constantly checking in with executives around trade deadline about like, OK, what we saw, what we didn’t see, what’s next, and in this league, you are always, always, always on the lookout for who’s the next wave of stars that are going to get dealt, right?”
“And somebody out of the blue said, keep an eye on Ja [Morant] this summer. … I’m just saying it’s one of those things I’m just kind of keeping an eye on if they were to flame out early.”
An NBA executive pegs Ja Morant as a star to “keep an eye on” as a potential trade candidate this summer if the Grizzlies flame out early, per @HowardBeck on @ringer.
“I'm constantly checking in with executives around trade deadline about like, okay, what we saw, what we didn't… pic.twitter.com/QL3LXpgMSa
— APHoops (@APH00PS) February 18, 2025
Would a Trade Work for the Grizzlies and Morant?
Morant is an All-Star-level point guard who is currently having a down year by his previous standards, but perhaps a chance of scenery could revitalize him.
He has been in Memphis for six seasons now, and despite signing a lucrative five-year, $197,230,450 deal to remain in Memphis back in July 2022, the lack of playoff success and health issues could pose a problem for the future.
If Morant is potentially traded, his salary in the 2025-26 season is a little over $39 million, which could allow Memphis to get another All-Star player in exchange. It is far too early to speculate who that could be, but if Morant and the Grizzlies fizzle out in the playoffs early, there is a good chance this conversation will come up again.
