Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies Have Discussed Ja Morant Trade
The Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies have discussed a Ja Morant trade, according to NBA reporter Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
No deal is imminent, though.
“There have been preliminary discussions between the Heat and Grizzlies regarding Morant’s availability, according to a league source,” Chiang wrote. “Those talks have not yet escalated and a deal is not imminent, with a source characterizing the Heat’s link to Morant as ‘premature.'”
The Grizzlies and Morant have mutual interest in parting ways, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.
Morant “hates” playing for Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo, sources said. The point guard is not a fan of Iisalo’s strategy of playing lineups in short shifts and then mass substituting, sources said. It has prevented Morant from getting his legs underneath him and developing a rhythm on the court.
Memphis is entertaining offers to potentially trade Morant, who doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. Multiple teams are pursuing Morant in trade talks and rival executives believe the Grizzlies would prioritize draft picks and young players in return.
Morant has appeared in 18 games this season. He’s averaging 19.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game while shooting 40.1% from the field, 20.8% from 3 and 90.0% from the free-throw line.
A two-time All-Star, Morant is making $39.4 million this season. He will make $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million in the 2027-28 season, the final year of his contract.
The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, Morant has only led the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs once.
Morant, 26, has career averages of 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Murray State.
According to NBA reporter Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, Miami has quickly emerged as an attractive option to Morant and his camp in recent days.
The Grizzlies are in 10th place in the West, while the Heat are in eighth place in the East.
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