ESPN Proposes Ja Morant Trade to Suns in Hypothetical Deal With Grizzlies

Ja Morant remains a frequent focus in NBA trade speculation. ESPN is floating a hypothetical deal that would send the Memphis Grizzlies guard to the Phoenix Suns.

ESPN writer Ben Golliver proposed that Phoenix send forwards Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen, and Haywood Highsmith, guard Jamaree Bouyea, and second-round picks in 2029 and 2032 to Memphis in exchange for the two-time All-Star.

Golliver wrote that Memphis cannot begin its next chapter without finding a trade partner for Morant, whose market value he said has been hurt by injuries and off-court incidents. Two years and $87 million remain on Morant's contract.

The 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year played 20 games this past season, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists. He shot a career-low 23.7% from 3-point range and averaged 3.6 turnovers per game.

He still had highlight moments. In his only matchup against the Suns this season, on Oct. 29 in Phoenix, Morant hit a game-winning jumper with 7.6 seconds left in a 114-113 Memphis road win. He finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in 32 minutes.

In Golliver's scenario, Morant would serve as Phoenix's lead guard. Devin Booker would get to spend more time off-ball, and Jalen Green would play more within the flow.

The Suns have indicated they expect to keep most of their current group intact. Phoenix went 45-37 and was eliminated by defending NBA champion Oklahoma City in the first round of the 2026 playoffs as the eighth seed.

ESPN's Bobby Marks addressed the salary implications. Because the Suns would take in more salary than they sent out, Phoenix would be hard-capped at the first apron. Marks said that the restriction could force the team to lose free agents Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams, and Jordan Goodwin. Gillespie and Goodwin are unrestricted; Williams is restricted.

Marks said the trade would help the Grizzlies clear about $25 million in 2027-28 salary and would push the team's future second-round draft asset count to eight.

Both O'Neale and Allen are wrapping their third season in Phoenix. Allen averaged a career-high 16.5 points but appeared in only 51 games because of injuries. He played his first two NBA seasons with the Grizzlies from 2019 to 2021.

O'Neale averaged a career-high 9.8 points and shot 40.8% from 3, his best mark in the league. Bouyea averaged 5.7 points in 46 games. Highsmith averaged 5.4 points in 7 games after joining Phoenix at the trade deadline.

The proposal is hypothetical. Phoenix has not publicly indicated interest in Morant, and Memphis has not signaled it is shopping the player.

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