Sources: Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings Linked To Buy-Low Ja Morant Trade
Ja Morant’s name continues to circulate in trade conversations ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA deadline, but the trade market around the Memphis Grizzlies guard remains limited. If Memphis can find an acceptable deal, Morant is expected to be moved, but it remains to be seen if that will occur.
“Memphis is tearing it down,” one source said. “If they can find an acceptable deal, they’ll take it. They’re motivated to get Ja out of their building and start fresh.”
League sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that while the Grizzlies have gauged interest, talks have yet to gain meaningful traction. As it stands, two teams that remain linked in buy-low trade scenarios include the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings. Other teams that have registered some level of interest earlier in the deadline process include the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Memphis Grizzlies Pursuing Teardown
Memphis’ recent transactions have reshaped how Morant’s situation is viewed across the league. The Grizzlies’ decision to trade Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz marked a decisive shift away from a retool and toward a full teardown centered on draft capital and long-term flexibility.
In that deal, Memphis sent Jackson, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr. and Jock Landale to Utah in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, including a 2027 Lakers first and another 2027 first from a Utah/Cleveland/Minnesota pool.
The move followed an earlier blockbuster that sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony (later bought out), four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap. Combined, those deals have positioned Memphis with roughly a dozen or more first-round picks over the next seven years, placing the Grizzlies among the league leaders in future draft capital.
The original core of Morant, Bane and Jackson — which powered Memphis to back-to-back No. 2 seeds in the Western Conference in 2021–22 and 2022–23 — has now been dismantled. Moving Jackson for picks and prospects, rather than a win-now co-star for Morant, signaled to rival teams that the organization no longer views that core as a viable path back to contention.
Ja Morant’s Production vs. Contract Reality
On the court, Morant has remained productive when available. He is averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 20 games this season.
Contractually, Morant is in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million designated rookie maximum extension signed in 2022. He is earning $39.4 million this season, with salaries escalating to approximately $42.2 million in 2026–27 and $44.9 million in the final year of the deal. The contract includes a 15% trade kicker but does not contain a player option or no-trade clause.
That combination of production and long-term financial commitment has shaped how teams are approaching discussions.
Teams around the league have shown increasing caution when it comes to absorbing long-term maximum-salary contracts. League sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Memphis has been unwilling to move Morant at a discount, particularly in deals that would require taking back unfavorable money without meaningful draft compensation.
As a result, discussions have remained exploratory rather than substantive.
Miami Heat Monitoring, but Contract Looms Large
The Miami Heat remain one of the teams most frequently linked to Morant, though league sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Miami’s primary focus continues to be monitoring the situation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo.
If Antetokounmpo ultimately does not prove available, the Heat will be forced to evaluate whether pivoting toward Morant is the right move or whether preserving flexibility for a future opportunity involving Antetokounmpo makes more sense.
Morant’s contract length is central to that decision. League sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that being signed through the 2027–28 season naturally gives teams pause.
“You’re committing to several years, and if it doesn’t work, you’re probably carrying that contract until it’s an expiring at least,” one league source said. “Most teams would want to be compensated just to take that deal on, whether they believe in Morant or not.”
That reality has contributed to Miami’s measured posture and has further cooled the broader market. Meanwhile, Sacramento has remained interested in mostly financially driven buy-low scenarios as opposed to having a strong interest in Morant as a player.
Ja Morant Trade Market Remains Limited
League sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Morant’s situation reflects a wider trend across the NBA. Even with a rising salary cap, teams have grown increasingly selective about taking on long-term money tied to star players, prioritizing optionality and downside protection over aggressive swings.
For now, Memphis appears content to wait. League sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the Grizzlies remain open to listening but are not inclined to force a move simply to create activity.
Until a team meaningfully shifts its appetite for long-term risk, Morant’s name is expected to stay on the board — discussed often, but without a clear resolution.
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