Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey says the Memphis Grizzlies should consider a Ja Morant buyout if no trade emerges. Here's why it isn't the worst outcome.
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey says the Memphis Grizzlies should consider a Ja Morant buyout if no trade emerges. Here's why it isn't the worst outcome.
In the NBA, a contract buyout is typically a last option.
Once you buy a guy's deal out, you aren't getting any value for him. That said, it happens. Typically, we're talking about aging veterans at the end of a smaller contract. We're not talking about someone who was recently seen as a franchise player. Well, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey just suggested that the Memphis Grizzlies should consider buying Ja Morant out if they can't find a suitor for him.
Cue the fan outrage.
I get it. It's a depressing outcome. Here's the unfortunate reality:
There have been worse suggestions regarding how the Grizzlies should deal with Morant.
Grizzlies Should Consider Morant Buyout
The bar is dangerously low.
We've seen proposals that had Memphis trading down in the 2026 NBA Draft just for the sake of moving on from Morant's deal. That would be a disaster. The Grizzlies should treat drafting the best player they can with the third pick as their top organizational priority this summer.
Sending out future assets along with Morant in exchange for serviceable players would also be a mistake. The Grizzlies need to be thinking about the future. Keeping their future first-round picks is essential.
So, where does that leave them with Morant?
If they can find a neutral-value deal for him, that would be fantastic. Different proposals have seen the Grizzlies moving Morant for Zach LaVine, Jalen Green, and Julius Randle. I've expressed concerns about Randle's fit with Cameron Boozer, but if they could find a third team, these are the types of proposals that make sense. The question is whether they'll be on the table.
What if they aren't?
A Morant Buyout Won't Sink the Grizzlies
Let's be honest. It's time for the Grizzlies to move on from Morant.
The damage has decidedly been done. At this point, an offseason that saw the Grizzlies lose Morant, add Boozer (or Darryn Peterson) without doing anything else could be counted as a success.
It's not the flashiest option. It won't excite fans. Buying Morant out means losing him without replacing him. After a run where he looked like a perennial MVP candidate, that's disappointing.
Ultimately, it won't matter if the next iteration of the Grizzlies is successful. If whoever they land with the third pick is a franchise-caliber talent, the fans won't miss Morant for long. Losing him for nothing is decidedly preferable to parting with valuable players or assets just to move him.
As last options go, a buyout isn't so bad.
Grizzlies Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Grizzlies. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
