How Grizzlies can max Ja Morant’s value with Bucks, Heat

It may be all for naught. There are conflicting reports on whether Antetokounmpo had a say in the new coaching hire. Either way, Jenkins and Morant enjoyed a productive relationship during their time together with the Grizzlies, with Morant averaging 22.6 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.

So what are the parameters if everyone wants to reshuffle the decks?

• Bucks: Ja Morant, Norman Powell, four first-round picks plus two swaps (one from Memphis, three from Miami, plus two swaps with the Heat)
• Heat: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Grizzlies: Tyler Herro, Myles Turner, two future first-round pick swaps with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030, three second-round picks

Everyone gets what they want here, mostly. The Heat land the biggest name in pursuit of a championship; Giannis gets a new max-level contract extension. Riley consolidates assets into a singular, championship-level superstar to cement a legacy. Start the celebrations on South Beach. They’ll have won the offseason’s main talent race.

The small-market Bucks get a new marketable star with a point to prove and the perfect coach to reset the culture. Morant may get up to $120 million in new money added in a new deal. Powell and the four picks help flip the rest of the roster so that the Bucks are back in the postseason picture next season. Ownership can sell a bright future for the next few years.

Kleiman’s Grizzlies, in turn, receive established talent in Herro and Turner to stay competitive in the near term while adding meaningful draft capital beyond the relatively weak 2027 class. Swaps with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030 provide upside without fully surrendering future control.

Herro has one year left on a $33 million deal. Memphis would not be locked in long-term, but would get a good look at the first ‘prime’ year. He averaged a career-high 23.9 points and 5.5 assists last season, giving Memphis a credible offensive weapon around whom to rebuild. Herro is not Morant, but he is a proven scorer who can keep the Grizzlies competitive in the Western Conference while their young core develops.

Getting Turner instead of some other surplus salary is going to be tough. That’s why Kleiman gets paid the big bucks, though. Still, it’s hard to see a better way to offload a disgruntled star. The Grizzlies do not have to rush a Ja Morant decision, but as they explore the market, a multi-team construct as part of the almost inevitable Giannis to Miami deal may be the cleanest way to extract full value.