Raptors emerge as a surprising potential landing spot for Ja Morant as trade chatter grows amid Memphis’ struggles and his ongoing injury absence.
The NBA rumor mill hasn’t waited for the calendar to turn before throwing out blockbuster ideas, and one of the loudest early-season concepts — Ja Morant landing with the Toronto Raptors — has quickly become one of the most intriguing hypotheticals on the board.
Morant has spent much of the past three weeks recovering from a right calf strain suffered Nov. 15 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the uncertainty surrounding both his health and Memphis’ trajectory has only intensified trade chatter. After initially announcing on Nov. 17 that Morant would be reevaluated in two weeks, the Grizzlies offered a more optimistic update on Dec. 4, when coach Tuomas Iisalo said the star point guard had progressed to “day-to-day.”
Despite that improvement, Morant was ruled out for Memphis’ Dec. 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. He enters the night averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists in 12 games — but the Grizzlies are just 4-8 with him on the floor and 5-5 without him, a split that has complicated the franchise’s evaluation of its short-term direction.
His absence has also forced the Grizzlies to rely on makeshift solutions at point guard. Memphis’ depth has been gutted by injuries to Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), Ty Jerome (calf) and Javon Small (toe), while 10-day signee Kobe Bufkin — brought in Nov. 24 for backcourt help — has already seen his contract expire. In the meantime, Vince Williams Jr. and Cam Spencer have taken on heavier playmaking responsibilities. Williams, in particular, has delivered multiple 15-assist outings and is averaging nine points and 8.3 assists across nine starts.
Against that backdrop, Bleacher Report’s early trade-season rankings placed Morant squarely in the rumor mix, citing ESPN’s Tim Bontemps’ reporting that “sources expect Memphis to explore the trade market for Morant.” That framing opened the door for hypothetical scenarios — including one that would send the former All-NBA guard to Toronto.
The proposed structure is bold: Toronto receives Morant; Memphis acquires Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, a 2026 second-round pick (via the Lakers) and a top-three protected 2028 first-round pick.
For the Raptors, the appeal is straightforward. Their roster has outperformed preseason expectations, but the ceiling still appears capped without another star initiator. Morant, even in a down season and amid injury setbacks, remains just 26 and not far removed from a four-year run averaging 25.7 points and 7.4 assists. Toronto coach Darko Rajaković previously worked with Morant in Memphis, adding a layer of familiarity that few other teams could offer.
The risk is equally clear: availability, efficiency, and long-term stability remain open questions. But for a franchise that rarely gains access to star talent in its prime, the upside is difficult to ignore.
Memphis would be selling low but gaining structure — a reliable starter in Quickley, a recent lottery pick in Dick, and two draft assets to restock future flexibility. More broadly, the hypothetical acknowledges an uncomfortable possibility: despite Morant’s star power, the Grizzlies may be approaching a crossroads.
None of this is imminent, and Memphis has not indicated it is actively shopping Morant. But with a recovering calf strain, a reshuffled rotation, and a 9-13 start that has exposed roster fragility, the noise surrounding a potential reset has only grown louder.
And as the league inches closer to the Feb. 5 deadline, the idea of Morant in Toronto — once far-fetched — is beginning to surface with surprising traction.