Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant has been linked to multiple teams this season, but the Houston Rockets reportedly aren’t pursuing the former first-round pick.
Rockets Indifferent To Ja Morant Trade
League sources informed The Athletic’s NBA staff on Wednesday that Houston is “not interested” in Morant “despite having lost veteran point guard Fred VanVleet for the season with a torn ACL.”
The Rockets value their young core in Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard, and they have “frequently resisted the temptation to reach for overpriced roster shortcuts,” the sources said.
“They have drafted well, built a deep team in a tough Western Conference while managing tax aprons,” said one league executive. “(They) hired a good coach and built an overall team identity, then added KD [Kevin Durant] for cheap.”
Last month, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that a few NBA executives “pinpointed Houston as a potential trade suitor for the 26-year-old” after VanVleet’s injury.
However, league executives believe Morant has negative trade value due to injuries and suspensions. Morant hasn’t appeared in more than 61 games in any of the past four seasons, according to Basketball Reference.
Morant Has Been Unreliable
Due to three suspensions and multiple injuries, Morant has played in fewer than 40% of the Grizzlies’ games since his two All-Star selections, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks.
Morant was suspended last month for conduct detrimental to the team after comments he made about the coaching staff, and he also said he had lost some of his joy playing for Memphis.
What’s more, Morant hasn’t played in a game since Nov. 15 because of a Grade 1 left calf strain. The 26-year-old had been dealing with right ankle soreness prior to the calf strain.
In 12 games (all starts) this season, Morant has averaged just 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and a career-low 28.8 minutes per contest. The seven-year veteran is also shooting only 35.9% from the field and 16.7% from deep.
According to Spotrac, Morant is earning $39.5 million this season and is in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million contract. He’s slated to earn $42.16 million in 2026-27 and as much as $44.88 million in 2027-28. His deal includes a 15% trade bonus as well.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5.
