There is no shortage of teams monitoring the Ja Morant situation in Memphis, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who reports that the Timberwolves and Kings are among the clubs in that group.
Morant has been under the microscope in recent days due to his apparent discontent with his usage and the substitution patterns being employed by new Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo. He served a one-game suspension on Sunday for conduct detrimental to the team following a disagreement with the coaching staff, then replied with a simple “no” when asked by reporters after his return to action on Monday whether he has any joy playing basketball right now.
As Amick notes, Iisalo has been making more frequent substitutions and using a deeper rotation, with Morant’s 29.4 minutes per game representing a team high and a dozen players averaging at least 13.7 minutes per night. Iisalo’s approach is causing some “culture shock,” says Amick, and Morant has struggled in the early going, shooting just 39.3% from the floor and 13.9% on three-pointers.
Still, there have been no indications to this point that the Grizzlies would want to move Morant, who remains a “wildly popular and entertaining” player, Amick writes. The 26-year-old’s potential trade value had already declined in recent years due to injuries, as well as previous suspensions related to his off-court behavior. If Memphis were to explore a deal now, the team would have very little leverage to extract a strong return for the former No. 2 overall pick.
Of course, the potential opportunity to buy low is one important reason why teams are keeping a close eye on Morant’s status.
The Timberwolves’ current point guards include a 38-year-old veteran (Mike Conley), a 20-year-old second-year player (Rob Dillingham), and a shooting guard playing out of position (Donte DiVincenzo), so it makes sense that they’d have some level of interest in Morant. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly also has a reputation for being willing to take big swings, having memorably given up a significant package of draft assets to acquire Rudy Gobert from Utah in 2022.
Minnesota is light on tradable draft picks and doesn’t have an obvious package of players to send out for salary-matching purposes, so the Kings could be better positioned to make a deal for someone like Morant and his $39.4MM salary. Having traded away point guard De’Aaron Fox in February, Sacramento signed Dennis Schröder in free agency to take over the starting job, but he’s not viewed as a long-term solution.
The Kings haven’t spoken to the Grizzlies about a possible Morant trade, a league source tells Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, though he acknowledges that could change. Anderson points out that at least one sports book listed Sacramento as the betting favorite to acquire the two-time All-Star.
Following Fred VanVleet‘s ACL tear, the Rockets are also viewed as a team in need of point guard help, but a team source tells Amick that Houston is unlikely to pursue Morant.
The in-season trade deadline is still three months away and many players around the NBA won’t become trade-eligible until December 15, so even if the relationship between Morant and the Grizzlies deteriorates quickly, it may not result in a trade in the short term. It also remains possible that the two sides will overcome their shaky start to the season and quiet trade speculation well in advance of the February 5 deadline.
Kings don’t have the young talent or draft stash to make a deal. Even if Ja tanks value more. I guess a bunch of pick swaps and Lavine or Demar with Keegan. They know they messed up drafting Carter so he has no value.
LaVine is probably the natural fit after also being used as a mechanism for the Fox deal. They moved Bane on the offseason and can use a SG.
Grizz do have PG depth once Jerome/Pippen get healthy, but could take a flier on Carter.
The Kings did get picks in the Fox deal (for also taking on LaVine’s contract) so not sure where the sentiment that they don’t have picks to trade is coming from. Two Firsts and five Seconds from that deal if memory serves.
Spurs 1st pick won’t be good and is protected so it will eventually be a very late 1st or change to 2nds. They do have Minns 2031 unprotected but that is too juicy if Minn has to blow it up. Ant can get frustrated by that time.
Kings proposal deal:
One proposed deal involves DeRozan, Dario Saric, and two first-round picks, while another idea suggests LaVine and a future pick.
Grizzlies proposal deal
Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan for Morant, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and John Konchar
No one is giving a haul for Ja. He is a head case and his style of play means that he will be injured often.
If he had. $15-20M contract teams would be willing to take a chance on him. With his max contract the Grizzlies will have to do with getting a bad expiring contract or two back.
Wolves proposal deal
Proposal 1: A package of Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid in exchange for Morant and John Konchar.
Proposal 2: A deal where the Timberwolves would receive Morant for Julius Randle, Terrance Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham
likely need third team
Lol, both would make the Wolves worse.
Not a chance Jaden is being offered.
No contender will want Ja: 1) he is a mental case and immature, 2) he is inefficient, 3) his reckless style of play, while it gives you highlights, will mean that he will be often injured, 4) his contract is too big for all those issues.
Only teams who will want him are perennial lottery teams who want a circus act to sell some tickets.
Jerry Reinsdorf on line 1.
You watching the games? They have Giddey on a significantly cheaper deal.
I’ve seen a few but I was too busy watching one of the greatest world series this country has ever produced lol. I will start watching a bit now, the swing pass with his offhand to Vu last night was amazing though. Always was high on Giddey, even when he got dealt for AC.
Dumars on line 1
Vivek on line 2
Actually the Pelicans he fits in
Interesting how this plays out, I think Memphis will value more picks than players.
Maybe this will lead them to trade JJJ as well, thats who I would be monitoring
Pelicans have 4 Firsts to deal
Kings have 6 Firsts to deal.
Dealing Morant to Wolves won’t have Grizzlies to make playoffs
Timberwolves needs to jump all over this.
Because they need a never happy immature malcontent that can’t shoot?
Los Lobos may be a good environment for Ja to grow in. It’s Edwards’ team so accountability would be there. I could see it being a good fit. Send out Donte and Julius again? IDK if they could make it work re assets to Memphis. But a contender with a “culture” would be the best thing for this immature young man.
No way do you trade Julius or ANYTHING of value for Ja. Not with his injury history, not with his mental history not with his contract. Donte, Miller and a second round pickI’d MAYBE offer. I’m not sure we wouldn’t rather have Donte than Ja to be honest. I’d move Rudy for anything at this point. Those extra muscles have him extra slow.
How about Morant/Concar for Rudy/Shannon/Dilingham?
Then trade Edey
We tried this experiment a number of years ago in a young promising guard with all the talent in the world named JR Rider. Couldn’t get his head on straight though. No thank you!! Don’t want any part of Ja on the Wolves!! When he’s healthy and engaged (becoming less and less these days) he’s great, but all the drama associated with him and the damage it would do to our locker room plus what we would have to give up to get him – it would be a colossal mistake for us to even sniff around trying to get him.
Not the same person. JR is from my neck of the woods. Ja has issues but JR had ISSUES! You got to take some risks. I say sell high on Randle, buy low on Ja!!!
Ja and Ant could/would make for one hell of a backcourt. Dare to dream!
It would be such a kings move to trade Sabonis for him and play only guards for an entire season lol.
LaVine or DeRozan/Saric for Morant?
Wolves would have a better offer.
Schroder and Monk
ATL makes sense along with kings.
Trae for Ja and Konchur gets it done. Hawks don’t wanna extend Trae.
The Kings have absolutely not one young player (18-22). It’s either compete and win or burn the house down trading almost the whole roster.
Memphis just needs to
Trade Konchar, Landale and every 2nd they have for a veteran C starter. Then sign a old old veteran PG to babysit N wise up Morant. Memphis needs some men. Not everyone on the staff and team be a hipster. Memphis needs veterans. Including the coach
Waive Hall and Bassey and sign a shot blocking C prospect (taller than 6’8 and 6’10)
Fire the coach and hire someone like Malone or McMillan. A veteran coach. Someone from the past
The Kings should consider Morant. Keeping Sabonis though. Then finding a shot blocking C. Sabonis to PF
Monk/Schroder and 4 Firsts for Morant
Bane = 4 unprotected Firsts
Fox = 1 First and 1 protected First (top-16)
How about Morant?
Trade for Bagley
I have given it a lot of thought and I think a dark horse team is my Suns. Jalen Green and Nick Richards works in trade machine and I think wouldn’t be a terrible package (obviously would need to add some draft capital but not sure what we even have left). Jalen would provide Memphis with a young athletic guard similar to Morant stylistically and a major upgrade for KCP and Wells, and Richards is better than Landale and could help shore up the frontcourt until Edey and Clarke are back and then provide solid depth. I think Morant and Booker would be a much better fit than Beal ever was and former teammates Grayson, Goodwin and Dillon Brooks have proven capable of helping mitigate Morants defense and shooting weaknesses. Won’t make us a contender but would definitely make the future less bleak and there is no point bottoming out when we don’t control our picks.