There have been some trade rumors that have surrounded Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies for a couple of years now, but they’ve been tepid at best. But given the early-season turmoil that surrounds the situation between the player and the team, it is becoming increasingly clear that the end could be near for the two sides.
Are Ja Morant & The Grizzlies Headed For A Breakup?
Ja Morant’s future in Memphis has been questioned for some time now. There were trade rumors during the offseason with the franchise under a new regime, but he remained on the roster as training camp began. Based on his comments over the weekend and his subsequent suspension, it is now more likely than ever that Morant will be traded.
The market for Morant’s services might not be robust, and likely one of the reasons that they held on to him over the summer. But there are a handful of teams that could now be in position to acquire the 26-year-old point guard.
According to the oddsmakers at BetOnline, the Sacramento Kings are the favorites to land Ja Morant if he is indeed dealt. The organization has returned to mediocrity and dysfunction just two years after their first postseason appearance in 17 seasons, and the “Beam Team” seems like a distant memory.
Kings, Heat, & Rockets Could Be Possible Destinations
After the trade of De’Aaron Fox, they’ve struggled to fill the point guard position, which is currently being manned by Dennis Schröder and Russell Westbrook, and they could see Morant as a long-term solution. The Kings are listed at +400 odds to pull off a trade with Memphis, which are implied odds of 20%.
Just behind Sacramento on the board is the Miami Heat at +500. Always a player in rumors involving star players, Pat Riley could soon work the phones to get his next elite talent to South Beach. Morant does come with some baggage, including off-court issues in his recent past, but Riley likely believes that he can “fix” someone by making them a part of Heat Culture.
| Sacramento Kings | +400 |
| Miami Heat | +500 |
| Houston Rockets | +600 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +700 |
| Toronto Raptors | +800 |
Rounding out the top three is the Houston Rockets, who lack a true starting point guard after the injury to Fred VanVleet. Between the three players listed on their roster as PGs, none of them have started a game yet, and two of them have received DNPs in 3 of Houston’s first 5 games. It would take some adjusting, but putting Morant in a lineup that already includes Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Şengün could be enticing.
The Grizzlies are currently 3-4 on the young season, and will take on the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. In six games played, Morant is averaging a career low 28.5 minutes per game, and his lowest scoring output since his second NBA season.
