Ja Morant potentially played his last game for the Memphis Grizzlies in the January 21 home defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. Late in that game, he suffered a left elbow UCL sprain that eventually ended his season and required a PRP injection. Despite not being able to play and potentially boost his trade value, his trade market is picking up steam even with the Grizzlies not being a playoff team.
Ja Morant's trade market was very limited at the deadline, and the team held onto him despite trading Jaren Jackson Jr. However, it looks like the Grizzlies should have a stronger trade market for Ja Morant this upcoming summer. Even though the NBA playoffs have been very competitive to start, it is clear that some teams desperately need a point guard, such as the Phoenix Suns.
It appears more teams will be interested in trading for Ja Morant
Jake Fischer recently discussed the Ja Morant trade market and where things currently stand (subscription required). Fischer wrote, "I am starting to hear predictive murmurs that the Grizzlies will find a wider trade market for Morant than they did in February when external interest was extremely minimal." Could this be a reaction to how the NBA playoffs are playing out so far?
Fischer's intel can be viewed in plenty of ways. First, teams such as the Phoenix Suns could be desperate to add a point guard to the roster, especially after a dominant first-round victory for the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Devin Booker had a very difficult playoff run, and a large reason was due to the lack of a natural playmaking point guard around him.
The other lens this recent development can be viewed through is that rebuilding or fringe playoff teams could believe Ja Morant is a worthwhile swing that can get a team back to the playoffs. Think of teams such as the Sacramento Kings or the Milwaukee Bucks, who had previously been interested. It cannot be ruled out that there is a potential reunion between Ja Morant and newly hired Taylor Jenkins.
What's next for the Grizzlies?
Before being able to map out a clear Grizzlies offseason plan, it will be essential to see where their first pick lands during the NBA Draft lottery on May 10. Even though all signs point to a Morant trade, it is still the first of multiple major decisions the Grizzlies have to make in a pivotal offseason.
Similar to how Desmond Bane was traded 10 days before the 2025 NBA Draft, Ja Morant could be moved in a similar timeframe. While any return will not be as heavy as what the team got for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, it cannot be ruled out that the Grizzlies can avoid attaching a pick with Morant. There should be increased hope for a similar return that the Hawks got for Trae Young.
A lot can happen between now and the summer, but it appears that Ja Morant's trade market just got a bit stronger with how the NBA playoffs are going so far.
Add us as a preferred source on Google