Ja Morant’s angle is turning into an issue for the Memphis Grizzlies as soon as once more, and this time there’s extra commerce hypothesis across the star level guard than ever earlier than. The Grizzlies suspended Morant for one sport final week after he reportedly beefed with coaches following a listless efficiency in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Morant’s current media periods have been even much less unenthusiastic, and he’s on the document saying he has no pleasure taking part in basketball in Memphis proper now.
Grizzlies lead govt Zach Kleiman emphatically denied any curiosity in buying and selling Morant following final yr’s commerce deadline, however the Grizzlies have basically collapsed since he gave that quote. It’s laborious to think about there generally is a sustainable relationship between the participant and crew going ahead with out a radical transformation. Whereas the Grizzlies pile up losses this season amid a myriad of accidents, Morant’s manufacturing and effectivity have each suffered.
This looks like a basic case of a participant who wants an opportunity of surroundings. Right here’s seven groups that must be if the Grizzlies are keen to play ball.
I don’t assume the Rockets are an ideal match for Morant, however their dire want for a talented ball handler and probably quick timeline with this model of Kevin Durant means they at the very least deserve a point out. The Rockets have put up incredible offensive effectivity numbers up to now with out a reliable level guard on the roster, however the schedule has been delicate, and it’s laborious to think about them surviving the Western Convention gauntlet with out one. Houston has loads of future draft picks to spare, and it’s attainable the worth on Morant will get low sufficient that he’s definitely worth the danger. Ime Udoka’s tradition of accountability could possibly be simply what Morant wants, and on Houston he could be one of many guys as an alternative of The Man. I’m nonetheless probably not shopping for it.
The Rockets are a really low-volume three-point taking pictures crew — No. 29 in three-point charge getting into Friday — and Morant is a really low-volume three-point taking pictures level guard. Whereas his ball dealing with in opposition to strain could be welcome, Morant can be not defender and would compromise what’s shaping as much as be an elite unit. I’m intrigued by how Morant might enhance Houston’s tempo because the Rockets presently sit with the third-slowest offense in basketball, however it feels just like the crew doesn’t must swing this massive to repair their ball dealing with points.
The elephant within the room with any potential Suns deal is that they’ve already traded all of their future first-round picks by 2032. There’s not a lot on Phoenix’s roster that may curiosity Memphis exterior of Khaman Maluach, and the Suns seemingly wouldn’t be keen to incorporate him in a deal. It nonetheless feels just like the Suns are value together with on this listing simply because a) they’ve all the time been hyper-aggressive in searching star expertise beneath Mat Ishbia, b) they might actually use an upside swing with youth, c) this roster nonetheless wants a degree guard until they wish to go full-time Level E-book. If Memphis actually will get determined to maneuver off Morant, perhaps there’s a small probability the Suns can land him in a multi-team deal. I might see Phoenix being , however this touchdown spot nonetheless feels extremely unlikely.
The Raptors have been stable up to now regardless of getting completely nothing from their highly-paid start line guard. Immanuel Quickley is struggling up to now in a prove-it yr coming off an injury-shortened season, and it’s simple to think about Toronto trying to find artistic options if he fails to get it going quickly. The Raptors’ offense by no means will get to the rim — No. 29 in rim frequency at time of publish — and so they take a ton of mid-range photographs, which is sensible for a crew led by Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes. Morant would add rim strain, and he’d give this roster a degree of playmaking it doesn’t presently have. Toronto ideally wants some pull-up three-point taking pictures out of its level guard that Morant doesn’t present, and regardless of his passing excellence, I fear he’d conflict with Ingram and Barnes for shot makes an attempt with out reliable spacing round him. I don’t love the match right here, however there’s a chance within the East this yr, and the Raptors have a gap at lead guard. A deal constructed round R.J. Barrett and Grady Dick is at the very least one thing to consider.
The Warmth look fairly good to begin the season, and so they nonetheless don’t have Tyler Herro within the lineup but as he recovers from an ankle/foot harm. Miami’s tradition of self-discipline could possibly be the absolute best match for Morant if he’s keen to buy-in. Erik Spoelstra stays an S-tier head coach, and he would seemingly work out a option to get one of the best out of the mercurial level guard. Proper now, Miami’s offense is taking part in at by far the quickest tempo within the league, and Morant is a straightforward slot in that type. The catch is that the Warmth don’t set any ball screens this yr, preferring to assault in isolation, and it’s attainable Morant that wouldn’t love that. The Warmth have a historical past of going star-hunting, and Morant figures to pique their curiosity as the kind of the kind of youthful star who not often turns into out there. If the Grizzlies are intrigued by Kel’el Ware or Kasparas Jakucionis, there could possibly be a pathway to a deal right here. I feel Miami is the absolute best touchdown spot for Morant if he’s traded, however it will require a degree of buy-in he hasn’t been giving in Memphis. I’m simply unsure the Warmth can out-bid different groups.
The Wizards are poised to have a ton of cap area subsequent offseason, and so they’re basically doing an “moral tank” this yr by permitting an excellent younger roster to check the boundaries of their talent units as losses pile up. Washington desires Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer or A.J. Dybantsa, but when they fall out of a top-3 of the lottery, buying and selling for Morant in the summertime makes quite a lot of sense. Washington doesn’t have a excessive degree playmaker on the roster to arrange the likes of Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, and Morant might present that. With a much less intriguing 2027 draft looming, the Wizards can’t play the lottery sport ceaselessly, and Morant would provide them a possible franchise star who nonetheless suits the timeline of their younger items with a talent set to assist them develop.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
Would the Grizzlies have any curiosity in Rob Dillingham? It certain looks like the Wolves don’t. After buying and selling a premium future draft choose to maneuver up into the top-10 of the 2024 draft to pick out Dillingham, Minnesota has not often performed him this yr, as an alternative opting to go along with an older model of him with out as a lot upside in Bones Hyland. The Wolves clearly has an enormous problem at level guard going ahead with Mike Conley getting old out of relevance. A backcourt of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo doesn’t have fairly sufficient playmaking, and it’s clear the Wolves didn’t wish to totally put money into a Level Ant look judging by the unique Dillingham deal. It’s been laborious to get a really feel for Minnesota up to now partially as a result of what was imagined to be an elite protection has been struggling horribly up to now. The protection ought to return to kind quickly, and if that occurs the Wolves are theoretically in the midst of their championship window, which makes a dangerous wager on Morant probably intriguing. Morant and Edwards could be a show-stopping backcourt, whereas I’ve some questions on how useful it will be, I’d be extraordinarily invested in seeing the way it performs out. That is most likely probably the most enjoyable potential touchdown spot for Morant, and it appears considerably believable.
The Kings want youth, the Kings want an upside swing, and the Kings nonetheless want a long-term resolution at level guard. Sacramento already tried to amass Jonathan Kuminga from the Warriors this offseason, and Morant looks like a equally distressed asset that might curiosity the crew. The Beam Crew was solely two years in the past, however it looks like a decade in the past as most of that roster has damaged aside and been changed by Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook. New lead govt Scott Perry goes to place his stamp on this crew ultimately, and making an attempt to land Morant is definitely one option to do it. I don’t assume Sacramento is a superb match from Morant’s perspective, as a result of Sacramento isn’t an ideal match for anybody historically-speaking, however they might construct their schemes round his strengths and probably deploy his rim strain subsequent to an ideal dribble-handoff operator in Domantas Sabonis and an elite shooter in Zach LaVine. Begin with Malik Monk for a possible deal and add items from there. The Kings must inject some pleasure, and swinging for Morant will surely qualify.
