Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat Showed Modest Trade Interest In Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant
The Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat showed modest trade interest in Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant at this year’s NBA trade deadline, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
The Grizzlies couldn’t find a trade partner for Morant, who will likely be in trade talks again this offseason.
“Memphis’ Ja Morant just didn’t have much of a trade market no matter how seriously the Grizzlies explored their options for sending him elsewhere,” Fischer wrote. “Sources say Sacramento only ever showed modest interest. I’m told Miami, too, only inquired about Morant with the idea of acquiring him in a deal similar to Washington’s asset-light acquisition of Trae Young. And the Heat, sources say, were not actively pursuing Morant in the days leading up to the deadline because Antetokounmpo had become their primary target. So the Grizzlies will have to try again this summer to find a palatable Morant deal.”
Morant will make $42.1 million next season and $44 million in the 2027-28 season, the final year of his contract.
A two-time All-Star, Morant has played in only 20 games this season. He’s averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 41.0% from the field, 23.5% from beyond the arc and 89.7% from the free-throw line.
The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, Morant has led the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs just once. That was back in 2022.
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.
A South Carolina native, Morant is currently out with a left elbow ulnar collateral ligament sprain. The Grizzlies, who traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline, are in 11th place in the Western Conference standings.
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