I’m The Memphis Grizzlies traded away franchise cornerstone Jaren Jackson Jr. on Tuesday afternoon, reigniting rumors about the future of point guard Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies have been entertaining offers for the better part of the season, but nothing materialized.
That could change after receiving a huge haul of draft picks for both Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. Memphis now owns 11 first-round picks through the 2031 NBA Draft, which could change how the Grizzlies value a potential Morant trade.
That means the price for Morant could potentially be coming down, making him more attractive to a shortlist of suitors.
Below, we’ll break down the three most likely trade destinations for Morant as the Grizzlies continue to reshape their roster.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo, but an offseason trade is beginning to seem more likely at this point.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that “Giannis Antetokounmpo has a very strong admiration for Anthony Edwards,” but a deal would almost certainly have to involve Jaden McDaniels, who the Timberwolves have been reluctant to part ways with in the past.
That could shift the Timberwolves focus onto another embattled star, especially after shedding salary by trading Mike Conley to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. Minnesota doesn’t have a true point guard on the roster and might not need one given how well Donte DiVincenzo has fit alongside Edwards.
However, a buy-low opportunity on Morant could be too good to pass up, especially if the Timberwolves are confident that they can make a move for Antetokounmpo in the summer.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are another team rumored to be a potential destination for Antetokounmpo. However, Morant could be a potential backup plan if things fall through.
Depending on what the Grizzlies value in a potential trade, the risk might be worth the reward for Miami. A pair of expiring contracts (Terry Rozier and Simone Fontecchio), along with a blue-chip prospect like Kel’el Ware, could be enough to get the conversation started.
That would allow Miami to retain Herro and Adebayo, while adding a potential franchise player at a major bargain.
Miami has a history of helping embattled stars turn things around and getting the most out of players who have been seen as locker room cancers before participating in Heat Culture (Jimmy Butler).
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have reportedly not ruled out adding Morant at the deadline.
This would be a low-risk swing for a Kings team that doesn’t have many desirable assets.
However, given Memphis’s affinity for acquiring draft capital, it’s hard to completely rule this out.
A swap involving Domantas Sabonis or a package involving Malik Monk and Keegan Murray could potentially get a deal done.
But recent reports suggest the Kings are unlikely to sign Morant to a long-term deal, indicating he could serve as a stopgap while Sacramento enters a rebuild.
