The Timberwolves have “checked in” with the Grizzlies about a potential Ja Morant trade, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic said in a recent appearance on SiriusXM Radio (Twitter link, hat tip to RealGM).
Krawczynski described the contact as exploratory, saying Minnesota is “testing the waters a little bit” to see if a deal might be available later on. He projects that talks could become more serious if the Wolves haven’t found an answer at point guard by December, saying, “I do think that they could explore at least looking harder at Ja Morant.”
Trade speculation surrounding Morant began to increase nine days ago after he had a disagreement with the coaching staff during a loss to the Lakers. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo reportedly confronted Morant about his effort level and focus during halftime and following the game, and Morant expressed frustration over Iisalo’s unorthodox substitution pattern.
The situation has been calmer since Morant returned from a one-game suspension, but there’s no indication that the dispute has died down. Still, multiple reports indicate the Grizzlies aren’t currently considering a Morant trade and are hoping that any hard feelings can be resolved.
The Timberwolves were cited last week as one of the teams monitoring Morant’s situation in Memphis, and their need for a reliable point guard has been obvious early in the season. Thirty-eight-year-old Mike Conley has been used mainly as a reserve and is averaging career lows with 6.5 points and 3.9 assists per game. Krawczynski points out that Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have been handling most of the play-making duties.
Tax apron restrictions make it difficult for Minnesota to work out a deal for Morant or any other star player. Because they’re operating above the first apron, the Wolves aren’t permitted to send out more salary than they take back in a trade, and Morant is earning $39.5MM this season.
Complete disaster in Memphis. Morant and Edwards wouldn’t coexist to begin with.
Sidenote: Pat Riley on Line 1 perhaps??
Ja for Herro+ is a nice move for both sides.
@ Davey J’
The Heat are currently 2nd in the league in apg at 30.4/gm without Herro. Unlike Ja, Herro can both shoot AND pass (23.5 ppg on 47%/38%/88% 5.2 rpg and 5.5 apg last season, obviously that trade would definitely make the Heat worse (so it would never happen).
He also makes $8.5 mil less this season than Ja.
Miami is no place for Ja lol. Plus they have Kasparas coming along. He is for real trust me.
The Heat are running the same offensive system that the Grizzlies ran last season. The one that Ja hated. They aren’t running any Pick & Rolls. They are not going to trade for him.
They also just got out of the Jimmy Butler experience and are not going to run head over heels to another difficult personality. Jimmy was worth dealing with because he’s a winner.
Unfortunately what do they have to offer for JaMorant? It would need to be a 3 way trade with another team so Memphis can get some young usable parts back and draft picks.
Naz, DDV and Dillingham works perfect salary wise, Naz can be traded January 15.
If Morant is getting traded, it’s because his value likely has continued to crater. They aren’t getting any premium draft picks or other stars for him, as frustrating as that might be to most Memphis fans.
Ja’s production in this new offense and his issues and salary make his trade value lower than most would expect. But DDV could be sent to a third team for a first round pick if Memphis wants a pick.
They would move Randle. Have to be to a third team. I’m sure they would take Dillingham. Plus a pick.
oh hell NOOO!
Why not just Darius Garland for Ja Morant straight-up. Who says no??
How about the Kangz?
Kangz:
Ja Morant & KCP
Grizzlies:
Dennis Schroder & Zach Lavine
Darius Garland for Ja Morant, who says no? The Cavs say no. If they trade Garland it’ll be for role players, picks and cap considerations.
That’s not a bad trade. Problem is they will need at least two pics and they sent all those pics to Utah. I see Miami maybe being a spot where the Timberwolves have no shot of landing him. They don’t have the pics and him and Edwards in the back court don’t see that working.
No to all of the above.
1. Morant is worse at basketball than Darius Garland.
2. Morant doesn’t even solve the size issues of the Garland/Mitchell backcourt.
3. Morant is a god-awful fit next to Mitchell since he can’t shoot.
They don’t have anything that Grizzlies would want. Would have to trade Randle for salary, but don’t have many picks to add, and they will be low quality picks anyway. No chance this happens.
LeBron would be a much better choice.
Ah yes I’m sure Ja would fit seamlessly next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
*Second apron restrictions
I think “first apron restrictions” is more accurate since they’re operating as a first apron team, but I’ll tweak the wording to make it clearer.
Gotcha, yeah semantics. I was thinking they could not exceed the second apron with this trade in aggregating salaries.
The Wolves are asking the Grizzlies how many first round picks they’re willing to give Minnesota to get head case Morant off their books.
Randall and Conley for Ja works. Not sure it makes the Twolves much better and it really clogs up their future cap situation.
Ja and Antman together would be cinema, but it would require Ja to get a lot better at PG.
Randle and Conley, 31.7 ppg 9.3 rpg 10 apg to Ja’s 19.2 ppg 3.8 rpg 7.9 apg.
No gm other than perhaps Nico would make such a bad trade.
Any GM that is making a trade based on combining PPG, RPG and APG of the players involved would be the dumbest person in the comments section of any website.
Its so weird how so many posters on here really hate trade rumors and cry and moan about any actual trade idea ever. Even weirder are posters who think trades have to make sense. Zero people on here said Luka for AD would happen, therefore zero people should be badmouthing posters actual trade proposals.
Its the name of the site. Its the point of this place.
I suggest researching the definition of “Rumor” if you think spitballing / speculation qualifies.
Commenting on whether a trade makes sense (or in most cases, doesn’t) is even more relevant than these often stupid ideas.
And yeah the Luka trade was huge news BECAUSE of how idiotic it was. It’s a once in a lifetime deal of a magnitude that is unlikely to happen again because every team & GM will remember for decades how **** it turned out.
Spam
You don’t even realize that you killed your own argument.
If you had predicted that Luka for AD would happen, you would be met with criticism (rightly) because of how stupid the deal is. The deal coming together from idea to reality doesn’t make it less stupid and it would be (and has been) criticized.
Can’t make it up man.
Dallas should trade for him lol
MEM must fire Iisalo ASAP if they want to save the season!
Ja and Ant would be an insanely good duo to watch and defensively you’ve got McDaniels and Gobert. Would be awesome for the TWolves especially if you can make it work for Naz, Donte and Conley/Dillingham and not give away to many picks.
I can see TWolves wanting Morant. Only Grizz are not taking Randle. They would need a third team. Lakers would be smart to get in on Randle. He can play with Ayton and Luka. He is more consistent than Rui. Plus he would be thrilled to be in LA. He loves Kobe lols. Lakers would get the best of Randle.
Dillingham, Rui, Reaves >>>>> to Grizzlies
Randle, TWolves #1 pick >>>>> to Lakers
Ja Morant >>>>> to TimberWolves
Zero chance Lakers give up Reaves. They will trade Lebron before that.
Yes, the Wolves are in desperate need of a starting PG but please anyone but Ja! He is injured way too often, needs to be the focus of the offense or gets upset and disengages. He does/says dumb things that get him suspended, and his D is below average. That is NOT the type of player we need on our team.
Based off what? All your titles you won doing otherwise? Oh wait…
I’m sorry you fell for anti-player propaganda so hard that you now dont want good players on your team because you dont like their attitude + skin color (white guys are allowed to do and say anything they want)
Dude is a thug and idiot as a Wolves season tix holder he’s a liability off the court. To have his classless father courtside would have me giving up my season tix. Turned away a great coach in Jenkins and is wasting J3s prime years. Keep that ish away from my boy ANT!
Your boy? Jenkins was a trash can. Are all black people “thugs” to you?
Wow that’s a reach! Yes, he is a very good player when he wants to be. Have you not kept up on him and seen his suspensions? Have you not seen the number of games he’s missed because of injury? Have you not watched him not participate in team huddles because he’s upset with the coaches? Have you not watched his post-game interviews? When did I ever say I’m ok with that type of attitude coming from a white guy? I don’t care who you are, you act like that I don’t want you on my team. I didn’t like it when Keven Love was on the Wolves. He was a great player but I hated his attitude. He thought he was too good for the team. Don’t like the attitude.
Show me where he said himself “I think I am too good for this team”. You are quoting him apparently, so you should be easily able to find a link.
I’ll wait.
You’re right Davey. You clearly know everything about basketball and every player on every team that has ever played. You’ve watched every press conference and all the media days and can pick up on the players attitudes and body language. I bow to you and will just dub you the all knowing. Have a good night.
You are the one making up lies about a NBA player you do not know in person and believing them. He has literally never said “I am too good for this team” – that’s what lunatics always think about people they irrationally despise, they make up lies and believe them.
I got gaslit my entire childhood by people saying “You think youre so (insert thing I 100% did NOT believe about myself)”. You are doing the thing, again.
We need to call TOR and get Immanuel Quickley
Why would you want this guy on the team. He’s a cancer. Stay clear. You’re just asking for trouble.
Ja to the Wolfs would make them serious contenders. Adding Ja to Edward’s & Randle would make their offense hard to stop. I don’t buy that Ja couldn’t co exist with Antman especially if Ja had championship aspirations for the first time in his NBA career. If Naz, Dillingham & DDV can net them Ja, they shoulda be all in.