Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant agrees to max-contract extension
NBA superstar Ja Morant has officially agreed to the most lucrative contract in franchise history.
The All-NBA point guard and the Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a five-year, $193 million contract that could be worth up to $231 million if certain benchmarks or incentives are met, according to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The new contract includes a 15% trade kicker, according to Morant’s agent, Jim Tanner.
Some of the incentives that could bump up his salary would be to make another All-NBA team or be named NBA MVP.
Morant, at age 22, will lay claim to the most lucrative contract in the 27-year history of the franchise.
The previous record-holder for the most lucrative contract in team history was point guard Mike Conley, who signed a contract with the Grizzlies for $153 million back in 2016.
Morant is already one of the most decorated players in franchise history and has quickly become one of the most exciting players in the entire league.
The 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2022 NBA Most Improved Player is coming off a 2021-22 season in which he averaged 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 6.7 APG, was named an All-Star starter, and helped the Grizzlies secure the second-best record in the NBA during the regular season.
The 2019 No. 2 overall draft pick out of Murray State will not reap the benefits of this new contract until his current rookie contract expires at the end of next season. So, Morant still has one more season of making around $12 million before his new deal kicks in beginning with the 2023-24 season.
At that point, Morant could be making as much as $46.2 million per year, on average. But, depending on how the contract is structured, he could have his deal front-loaded or back-loaded to help keep the team’s salary cap a bit more flexible.
Morant is, without question, the most talented player to ever wear a Memphis Grizzlies uniform and he’ll continue to do so through the 2027-28 season.