The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly been "aggressive" in their pursuit of embattled Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
Brandon Robinson of ScoopB.com dropped a bombshell on the New Orleans Pelicans community on Sunday afternoon with a report that the team has been "aggressive" in their pursuit of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
When it was revealed that the Grizzlies were open to trading Morant, the Pelicans were one of the first teams that were suspected to be interested in adding him.
New Orleans' interest appears to be very real, as Robinson has reported on an offer that the Pelicans sent to Memphis and was seemingly close to the mark.
This deal would have seen New Orleans send veteran guards Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray to the Grizzlies in exchange for Ja Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The thing that kept it from going through was that Memphis wants a first-round pick in addition to the two veterans.
Other reported trade offers were Poole and Kevon Looney for Morant, and Poole, Jordan Hawkins and DeAndre Jordan for Morant.
One thing is clear from all of this: the Pelicans are trying to get off a contract that must be giving them nightmares right now in Poole.
The CJ McCollum swap has worked out well enough for them, but not in the way that they expected. It's been Saddiq Bey who has stepped up and become a crucial part of this team.
The Poole experience has not been a great fit in New Orleans as he is averaging just 14.5 points and 3.1 assists on 37.0/33.6/87.6 shooting splits. He is set to make around $34 million next year, but it will be an expiring deal.
Murray has only played 31 games for the team since they traded for him last offseason after suffering an Achilles injury last January. He is making an average of $31.4 through 2027/2028 with a player option, but does at least have a better track record of playing solid basketball.
This is a deal to keep in mind, as it appears that the Pelicans really want to add Morant, almost as much as the Grizzlies want to get rid of him. If Memphis doesn't get anything better on their table before the deadline, things could get kicked back up.
New Orleans adding Morant would, at minimum, make the team a lot more exciting to the average NBA fan. A promise of Zion Williamson and Morant could reawaken this fanbase.
From a basketball standpoint, it makes a little bit less sense. The former No. 2 overall pick has taken a step back in production with 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per night on 41.0/23.5/89.7 shooting splits.
He has also been about as reliable as Williamson to be on the court over the last few years, between off-court issues bringing suspensions and injuries keeping him from playing.
The 26-year-old is losing athleticism, turning the ball over more and making the Grizzlies worse when he is on the court (a -4.8 net rating difference when he is in the game).
It's a huge risk, but one that the Pelicans might be well-equipped to make right now. This roster construction clearly isn't going anywhere. Getting off the contracts of Poole and Murray would be massive in helping the team move forward, even if Morant is making north of $40 million over the next two seasons.
Morant does still show glimpses of the elite player he has been in the past. Just last month, he scored 40 points on 16-of-22 from the field. He has averaged 12 assists in the three games he has played in January. Perhaps he just needs a change of scenery.
If New Orleans can pull off some construction of this trade without giving a first-round pick, it would be worth doing.