Where should Ja Morant go amid wild NBA offseason?

The NBA offseason has been nothing short of chaotic. We've already seen multiple franchise players change teams, including Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to the Miami Heat and LaMelo Ball joining up with Anthony Edwards on the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Another franchise player whose name continues to surface in trade rumors is Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies. The 26-year-old was selected by Memphis in the first round (second overall) of the 2019 NBA draft and was widely touted as being one of the future faces of the league. However, a combination off-court issues and injuries has slowed down that trajectory. 

If the Grizzlies ultimately decide to move Morant, these two teams would be the best landing spots:

1. Phoenix Suns

Morant joining forces with Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks would make a prolific trio. The Suns exceeded low preseason expectations in the 2025 campaign that were set due to the loss of Kevin Durant and welcoming a brand new coach in Jordan Ott. 

The Suns secured the eighth seed in the Western Conference despite Booker having missed 18 games and Jalen Green having played only 32 games during the regular season. It is also worth mentioning that Brooks averaged a career-best 20.2 points per game and proved to be a legitimate offensive threat. 

Phoenix went up against the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round and was swept handily. The Suns didn't have enough offensive firepower to keep pace with Oklahoma City, and that is where Morant could aid the Suns in 2026. 

2. Charlotte Hornets 

Since Ball is on his way to Minnesota, Charlotte currently doesn't have a de facto "face of the franchise" type of player at this juncture. Morant would instantly fill into that roll for the Hornets. 

Morant, along with newly acquired forward Naz Reid, would bring solid playoff/high stakes basketball experience to a franchise that hasn't been to the postseason since 2016. Charlotte has a high upside player in rookie guard Kon Knueppel (18.5 PPG) who can compliment Morant's dynamic play style extremely well in the back court. 

What next season means for Ja Morant

It is fair to say that Morant hasn't been an All-NBA caliber guard over the past three seasons. Since the Grizzlies' last playoff appearance in 2023, Morant has played in only 79 regular-season games. The 26-year-old's maturity and availability has been questioned over this time span and a move out of Memphis could be what Morant needs and/or wants.

Wherever Morant ends up playing in 2026, he needs to prove that he can still perform at an elite level like he did in the 2021-22 season. The 2019 pick earned second-team All-NBA honors while having averaged 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Morant exhibited elite rim-finishing and playmaking skills while being Memphis' franchise leader.

The 2026-27 NBA season could determine the trajectory of Morant's career moving forward.