Forget Nets' pursuit of Ja Morant. Reports reveal Brooklyn's front office values character, making a blockbuster trade highly improbable.
The first domino of the 2025-26 NBA trade season fell when the Atlanta Hawks dealt 4-time All-Star point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, but he surely won't be the last star floor general to be involved in endless speculation.
In fact, Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has already filled Young's void as arguably the most talked-about trade candidate outside of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Brooklyn Nets have been thrust into the spotlight as a potential suitor for the 2-time All-Star and 2022 Most Improved Player award winner.
Though plenty of rumors have included Brooklyn as a possible destination, Morant's obvious decline since his last All-Star season in 2022-23 has given plenty of reason for the Nets' front office to lack any and all interest in acquiring him.
To hammer this point home, Nets Daily's Bob Windrem explained why the hypothetical acquisition of the controversial guard would contradict previous statements and wishes made by Brooklyn's general manager Sean Marks and governor Joe Tsai.
"As for the Nets possible interest in Morant, that doesn’t seem plausible -- and we’re being kind," Windrem wrote Saturday night.
"Publicly, over and over again, as well as privately, Marks and Joe Tsai have spoken about 'high character' players being the foundation stone of the rebuilt Nets," Windrem continued.
"And Morant, the 26-year-old who not that long ago was seen as the future face of the league, has had one issue after another, two suspensions for waving firearms, being forced to enter counseling, issues with his coaches, teammates and a Hall of Famer, etc."
"Not to mention sustaining one injury after another. At this point his trade value is low and there’s even some speculation that the Grizz may have to add picks! Ja Morant as a salary dump?!? Don’t act shocked. It basically just happened to Trae Young!"
"Of course stranger things have happened than the Nets taking on Morant.."
While you could never put anything past most of the general managers in the NBA, Morant appears to not match the standards previously set by both Marks and Tsai from an on-court and off-court perspective.
In 18 games for the Grizzlies this season, Morant has fallen from grace and averaged just 19.0 points, 7.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds on a horrific 50.6% true shooting percentage.
Morant has rarely displayed the explosiveness that made him one of the NBA's best rising superstars just a few seasons back, and Brooklyn should not be the franchise that attempts to bring him back from his downward spiral.
The upcoming 2026 NBA Draft is too important, and the Nets will have a legitimate shot at landing a franchise-altering talent by following that route and not touching Morant trade conversations with a 10-foot pole as the Feb. 5 trade deadline nears.
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