Rockets, Heat, Pelicans, Magic, Kings Considered Landing Spots For Ja Morant

If the Memphis Grizzlies decide to trade Ja Morant this summer, one NBA analyst thinks the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings make sense as landing spots for the point guard. 

“Should the Grizzlies decide they’re prepared to pave a new path without Morant, they should find a number of suitors willing to make that happen,” Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report wrote. “Five teams in particular loom as logical landing spots, so we’ve thrown together and analyzed some hypothetical trade packages.”

A two-time All-Star, Morant appeared in 50 games for the Grizzlies this season. He averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field, 30.9% from 3 and 82.4% from the foul line.

Morant was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Grizzlies have won just one postseason series since drafting Morant out of Murray State. 

The 25-year-old Morant has career averages of 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists. He signed a five-year, $197 million extension with Memphis in 2022. 

Morant will make $39,446,090 next season, $42,166,510 in 2026-27 and $44,886,930 in 2027-28, the final year of his contract. 

Here are the mock trades Buckley came up with: 

Rockets receive: Ja Morant and Jay Huff

Grizzlies receive: Fred VanVleet, Cam Whitmore, 2025 first-round pick (via PHX) and 2028 first-round pick (top-four protected)

Heat receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jović and a 2025 first-round pick (via GSW)

Pelicans receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones and a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected via IND)

Magic receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, a 2025 first-round pick (via DEN), a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected) and a 2028 first-round pick (top-two protected)

Kings receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, Jonas Valančiūnas and a 2027 first-round pick (top-three protected)