Grizzlies fans are not the only ones around the league hoping to hear some trade news. The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee is the biggest storyline this offseason, and there is a high likelihood he gets traded soon. Even though the Grizzlies aren't exactly a suitor for him, his status is worth monitoring, as it could potentially unlock a Ja Morant deal soon after.
Sam Amick gave more updates (subscription required) on the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation, and it was interesting to hear what he had to say about Ja Morant. The interest in Ja Morant from the Miami Heat has been well known for a while now, but the most interesting piece of Amick's intel is that he described the Grizzlies as "hopeful" that Morant could be a Plan B for a team that fails to acquire Antetokounmpo.
Amick also went on to say that the Heat could offer a package that could reset a "soft" market for Ja Morant. Even though Morant has struggled with injuries and shown some offensive decline in recent seasons, a team could justifiably take a chance on trying to get him back to his previous best.
Whether the Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo trades end up being linked to each other or not, it's still a possibility that deserves further discussion.
Any Giannis trade could impact the timing of a Morant deal
The Grizzlies have plenty of motivation to get a Morant trade done as soon as possible now that they have fully committed to a new rebuild. The Grizzlies have already moved on from Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane in the past year, and moving on from Ja Morant this summer would allow the team to fully focus on a brand new core in Memphis.
By now, everyone knows the significance of the 2026 NBA Draft for the Grizzlies. Even though most of the offseason will center around how the draft goes, the Grizzlies still have to resolve Ja Morant's future very soon. Given the lack of trade activity around the league following this year's NBA Finals, the timing of a potential Morant deal could end up impacted by when Antetokounmpo gets dealt.
It is already very likely that the Grizzlies will trade Ja Morant this summer, but now the biggest question is when the deal will occur. Another interesting angle to consider is whether the Grizzlies should look to be a third team facilitating any Giannis deal. Or would it be better to wait for the Giannis trade to occur and then hope a team like Miami resets Morant's market?
Given that Miami's #13 pick in this year's draft and many other young assets have been linked to a potential trade between the Heat and Bucks for Giannis, it would not be a surprise if a deal ends up materializing before draft night. In this scenario, the Grizzlies would very likely move Morant on draft night or very shortly after.
All signs point to the Ja Morant era in Memphis ending this summer. Now, the real question seems to be a matter of when rather than if at this point.
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