Grizzlies Trade Conversations Will Extend Past Deadline, If Needed

To this point, half a dozen teams are regarded as potential destinations for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant if he is traded. However, there’s been tepid interest from most of those franchises, including the Miami Heat. This has led to the New Orleans Pelicans being considered Morant’s most serious suitor, though there are conflicting rumors about whether they’re actually in on the beleaguered point guard themselves.

With both team and player at a crossroads, Morant could wind up staying in Memphis beyond next week’s trade deadline. That doesn’t mean their partnership will last beyond 2025-26 though. If the Grizzlies can’t find a partner for a Morant trade over the coming days, they’ll continue trying to move him over the offseason.

Grizzlies Ja Morant Trade Conversations Will Extend Past Deadline, If Needed

“I still think in the Grizzlies’ hopes… they would still be able to trade Ja Morant,” The Commercial Appeal reporter Damichael Cole tells Locked On Grizzlies host Joe Mullinax. “But I think as the days go on, it’s becoming harder to see a path into where that’s going to happen before the trade deadline.”

“Some people in the fanbase have the idea that if Ja’s not traded Feb. 5, they can celebrate and relax,” Cole continues, highlighting Morant’s popularity in Memphis. “But Feb. 5 won’t be some type of ending to this process. I can pretty much guarantee you that. If Ja isn’t traded at that point… we’ll be having these conversations again.”

To be sure, Cole’s comments won’t be met with cheers from Morant’s staunchest supporters. As a walking highlight factory who helped lead the Grizzlies back to playoff contention, there’s a throng of fans who would ride with him until the wheels fell off. Yet, the way Memphis’s season has gone, it already feels like they’re riding on spare tires.

Trading Ja Morant Makes Sense, No Matter What

In a literal sense, the Grizzlies have been held back by injuries.

Second-year center Zach Edey continues to be hampered by problematic ankle injuries. Due to his absence, they’ve been missing an interior presence that greatly affects their performance at both ends. Then there’s Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome, key members of the second unit. Pippen (toe) and Jerome (calf) have yet to make their season debuts. Though second-year guard Cam Spencer has stepped up, he can only do so much. He can’t cover for Pippen, Jerome and Morant.

With that being said, Morant himself has already been sidelined for 24 of the Grizzlies’ 44 games. Even worse is that this isn’t an anomalous occurrence. Over the past three seasons, he’s played 79 games total, topping out at 50 games in 2024-25. The only time he’s played at least 65 games (the minimum to be eligible for end-of-season accolades) in a single season as his rookie year (67 games).

Memphis may be 185-142 with Morant all-time, a win percentage (.566) good enough to be a perennial playoff team. Yet, his frequent absences make their record without him (87-103) all too visible. His off-court incidents and on-court weaknesses have often been discussed. But even without taking those into account, would they simply be better off trading him?

A high-level starter with better availability could certainly help. Of course, Morant’s market is as cool as he wants to be. Nonetheless, if they’re able to attain a first-round pick for him, they could combine salaries and draft capital to trade for that player indirectly.