Marc Stein debunks aggressive Pelicans pursuit of Ja Morant, revealing no direct talks with Memphis. Rumors overstated trade activity.
Speculation around a potential blockbuster involving Ja Morant has surged over the past week, with the New Orleans Pelicans increasingly framed as an aggressive suitor ready to upend its roster. The noise, however, appears to have outpaced reality.
According to veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, however, much of that noise has run ahead of the facts.
Despite widespread chatter, Stein has pushed back on the idea that the Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies are actively engaged in Morant negotiations.
“Despite persistent speculation to the contrary,” Stein wrote, he has been told that no direct talks between New Orleans and Memphis have taken place regarding Morant.
That clarification stands in contrast to an earlier report from NBA insider Brandon Robinson, who described the Pelicans as having explored a player-focused proposal centered on Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope potentially routed to Memphis. In Robinson’s account, New Orleans was prepared to be bold after a disappointing start to the season but ultimately balked at attaching draft capital, believing the talent exchange alone should have been sufficient.
“With a record that has them scraping the bottom of the Western Conference … the ‘stay the course’ mantra has officially been retired,” Robinson reported at the time. He framed the Pelicans as a franchise no longer interested in marginal adjustments, but rather in reshaping their trajectory through a high-impact move.
Stein’s reporting suggests that scenario never advanced beyond conceptual discussion. While league-wide belief persists that Memphis is at least willing to listen, there is little indication that talks with New Orleans ever reached a formal negotiating stage.
That does not mean Morant is untouchable. The Grizzlies have often been characterized as being open for discussion under the right circumstances, particularly if they believe they are receiving full value for a player once viewed as the face of the franchise. Memphis is wary of underselling a star asset, especially after observing the Atlanta Hawks draw criticism around the league for what many executives viewed as a modest return in the Trae Young deal.
Morant’s own situation further complicates the landscape. He is currently sidelined with a UCL sprain in his left elbow and is not expected to be re-evaluated for three weeks, placing his timeline well beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline. That injury, layered atop previous availability concerns and off-court issues, has cooled enthusiasm among potential suitors.
On the floor, Morant’s production has been solid but uneven by his standards. In 20 games this season, he has averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists, while shooting a career-low 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range. His efficiency metrics have dipped accordingly, muting the premium usually attached to a player of his explosive profile.
There were encouraging signs before the latest setback. In his two games following his return from an earlier injury absence, Morant posted 24 points and 13 assists against Orlando, then followed with 23 points, 12 assists, and three blocks against Atlanta. Those performances served as reminders of his ceiling, even as questions about durability and consistency linger.
For now, Stein’s reporting reframes the situation less as an imminent trade saga and more as a case study in how speculation can race ahead of substance. Morant remains one of the league’s most intriguing talents, but until health, timing, and valuation align, the Pelicans-Grizzlies connection appears more theoretical than tangible.