New Ja Morant Trade Idea Sends Memphis Grizzlies Star to Chicago Bulls

A new blockbuster NBA trade idea sending Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Chicago Bulls has been created. 

Bleacher Report created the following trade idea between the Grizzlies and Bulls: 

Bulls Acquire: Ja Morant, No. 3 pick

Grizzlies Acquire: Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, Rob Dillingham, No. 4 pick

This trade idea pairs Morant with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. Chicago also gets the third overall pick in this year's draft. 

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies get three rotational players in Williams, Smith and Dillingham and the fourth overall pick in the 2026 draft. 

In 20 games for Memphis this regular season, Morant averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per contest while shooting 41.0% from the field, 23.5% from 3 and 89.7% from the free-throw line. That's the type of production Giddey and Buzelis need next to them for the Bulls to make the playoffs again. 

Chicago hasn't made the playoffs since 2022. 

The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, Morant has led the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs just once. That was back in 2022 with Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. 

Morant has career averages of 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. He no longer fits Memphis' timeline since the franchise is rebuilding after trading Bane to the Orlando Magic last offseason and Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at this year's trade deadline. 

According to ESPN, Morant has told people that he's done playing for the Grizzlies, who selected the guard with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Murray State.

A two-time All-Star, Morant still hasn't gotten over the Grizzlies suspending him earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team.

"Morant still hasn't gotten over the suspension, multiple league sources said, because he felt alienated by teammates, who were told to leave the star guard alone so he could work through the issues that had led to the suspension. In the aftermath, Morant told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn't playing for Memphis anymore, sources said," ESPN wrote.

Since Morant doesn't have a no-trade clause, he can't control where the Grizzlies trade him this summer. 

Morant will make $42.1 million next season and $44 million in the 2027-28 season, the final year of his contract.

The top four picks in this year's draft will be AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer. This trade idea from Bleacher Report allows the Grizzlies to get off Morant's contract, acquire three players and still keep a top-four pick.

That's not bad at all. 

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