Ja Morant has been one of the more polarizing players in the NBA in recent years for both on- and off-the-court reasons.
His lack of availability, combined with underwhelming play even when healthy in recent years, has changed everything for a Memphis Grizzlies team that was supposed to be on the rise and becoming a contender led by Morant.
Instead, both sides appear as if they could benefit from a parting of ways, and while the two-time All-Star’s trade value is nowhere near what it once was, ESPN still believes Memphis will be able to find a suitor. In a recent star summer trade ideas article, two of the six proposed deals featured Morant, with the first pairing him with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota.
“As the playoffs continue to show, depth matters. The Timberwolves trading three players for Morant would run counter to that. Minnesota taking back more salary in this deal would hard cap the franchise at the first apron and could make it difficult to sign free agent Dosunmu.
Former first-round picks Shannon and Beringer do fit the rebuilding Grizzlies. Memphis also could flip the former All-NBA Randle to a contender for more assets,”
The second proposal sent him to the Phoenix Suns to team up with Devin Booker.
“The Grizzlies already had entered the rebuilding phase of their roster, and they now do it without the former face of the franchise, Morant. In taking back Allen and O’Neale, the Grizzlies save $25 million in salary for 2027-28. They also increase their future second-round picks to eight.
The Suns overachieved last season, and they now are faced with the choice of relying on the same roster or making an aggressive trade for a player such as Morant. Because the Suns would be taking back more salary in the trade, it would hard cap them at the first apron. The restriction could put them in a position to lose free agents Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin,”
The 26-year-old Morant averaged 19.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 3.3 RPG across just 20 games played for the Grizzlies in 2025-26.
Both the Timberwolves and Suns make a lot of sense for Morant, with each team in need of a true point guard—and a star one at that—to pair alongside their superstar shooting guards in Edwards and Booker.
Trading for Morant, of course, comes with risk, but it also could come with massive reward, and given that the cost to acquire him may never be lower, it could very well be worth it for teams looking to get over the hump.
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