Miami watches from afar as a quiet Ja Morant trade market unfolds. Few teams possess the assets, and fewer still have the appetite.
As the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches, the market around Ja Morant appears far quieter than expected, with several teams either cooling on the idea entirely or placing firm limits on what they are willing to offer.
The clearest signal so far may be who is not involved. Despite periodic speculation, the Miami Heat are not viewed by league insiders as a serious landing spot for Morant if the Memphis Grizzlies ultimately move the two-time All-Star.
According to ESPN, Miami’s involvement has been overstated, with the organization described as being laser-focused on avoiding long-term salary commitments ahead of the summer of 2027, when multiple superstar free agents could potentially hit the market. That stance reflects a broader reality around the league.
ESPN added that many NBA decision-makers do not see a robust market forming for Morant at all, despite his name recognition and past production. Teams remain wary of tying up future flexibility for a player whose availability and efficiency have declined in recent seasons.
Milwaukee continues to surface as the most frequently mentioned option. The Milwaukee Bucks are widely viewed as operating with urgency as they look to maximize the championship window around Giannis Antetokounmpo. With few tradable first-round assets available before 2031, Milwaukee’s path to a Morant deal would likely require creativity.
HoopsHype reported that Memphis has shown interest in the Bucks’ 2031 or 2032 first-round pick, along with guard Ryan Rollins, in exploratory talks. It was also noted that Milwaukee has shopped Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis in separate discussions around the league, with both players potentially factoring into a larger framework if negotiations gained traction.
Elsewhere, interest has been measured at best. Scotto reported that the New Orleans Pelicans have explored a buy-low concept for Morant, but have made it clear that young prospects Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are off-limits. The Sacramento Kings have also been loosely connected, though The Athletic reported Sacramento would only consider a deal that avoids sending significant draft capital to Memphis and does not view Morant as an ideal fit for its current timeline.
Potential dark-horse teams appear unlikely to enter the mix. HoopsHype added that both the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets, two clubs occasionally floated by league insiders, are not expected to pursue a Morant trade.
Memphis’ openness to discussions became public earlier this month when ESPN reported the Grizzlies were entertaining offers with a preference for draft assets and young players in return. However, league context has shifted rapidly. With point guard depth at an all-time high, front offices have shown little appetite for paying a premium unless the player clearly shifts a team’s championship ceiling.
The recent Trae Young trade served as a cautionary benchmark. Despite being a four-time All-Star with a stronger recent availability track record, Young returned only CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert when the Hawks dealt him to Washington, underscoring how restrained the market has become.
Morant’s on-court profile adds another layer of hesitation. He is averaging 19.0 points on a career-low 40.1% shooting, including 20.8% from three, with 7.6 assists per game. He has started just 18 of 40 games this season and is on pace to miss at least 20 games for the fifth straight year. Morant has not appeared in more than 50 games since the 2022–23 season, a trend that weighs heavily against a contract that pays $42.2 million next season and escalates to $44.9 million in 2027–28.
For Miami, the calculus is simple. The Heat are rarely driven by desperation, and internal evaluations suggest they are not inclined to sacrifice long-term flexibility for a player with Morant’s risk profile. In South Beach, patience has historically been rewarded, whether through cap maneuvering or the eventual arrival of a franchise-altering free agent.
As the deadline nears, Morant’s name remains prominent, but the list of realistic destinations appears increasingly short — and cautious.