Grizzlies explore Ja Morant trade possibilities, listening to offers centered on draft picks and young talent as franchise navigates future direction.
The Memphis Grizzlies are reassessing their long-term direction as the NBA trade deadline approaches, with Ja Morant’s future emerging as a central question in those internal discussions.
According to ESPN, the Grizzlies have begun entertaining trade offers involving Morant ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline. Multiple teams have pursued conversations, and rival executives told ESPN they believe Memphis would focus on acquiring draft picks and young players rather than veteran help if a deal were to materialize.
The willingness to listen marks a significant moment for the franchise. Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, has been the face of the Grizzlies’ rise over the past several seasons. ESPN reported this is the first time Memphis has engaged other teams in trade talks centered on the two-time All-Star, even as the organization stops short of committing to a full reset.
Morant, 26, remains under contract through the 2027–28 season and is eligible this summer for an extension worth up to three years and $178 million. His on-court production this season has come in brief windows. He is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting 40.1% from the field and a career-low 20.8% from three-point range.
Availability has continued to complicate the evaluation. Morant has appeared in only 18 games this season, sidelined by injuries and a one-game suspension following a postgame exchange with coach Tuomas Iisalo in November. Over the past two seasons combined, he has played 59 games, missing extended time due to injuries and two suspensions related to off-court incidents involving firearms.
Despite the interruptions, Morant’s broader résumé remains difficult to ignore. He is one of just eight players in NBA history to average at least 22 points and seven assists per game. That level of offensive creation continues to drive leaguewide interest, even as teams weigh risk and reward.
Memphis is simultaneously evaluating alternative roster-building paths. The Grizzlies have seen encouraging development from several young players, including Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer.
Internally, the franchise is considering whether a retool centered on that group — alongside 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. — better aligns with its competitive timeline.
The organization’s flexibility is reinforced by a substantial collection of draft assets. Last offseason, Memphis traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round swap. As a result, the Grizzlies control nine first-round picks and six second-rounders going forward, including their own first-round selections in each of the next seven drafts.
Memphis has not ruled out continuing with Morant as a focal point, underscoring that discussions remain exploratory rather than definitive. The Grizzlies enter the second half of the season holding the 10th-best lottery odds ahead of a highly anticipated NBA draft in June, adding another layer to the calculus as the deadline nears.
Whether Memphis ultimately reshapes its future around Morant or leverages its assets to chart a new course, the franchise has positioned itself to consider every option in what could be a defining stretch.