The Memphis Grizzlies are considering shaking up their roster by trading two-time All-Star Ja Morant, with ESPN reporting that the team is now "open" to offers for the point guard. Morant, who the Grizzlies selected second overall in the 2019 draft and is currently averaging 19 points per game this season, remains under contract through the 2027-28 season, according to WREG.
Shams Charania of ESPN has highlighted injury woes and off-the-court issues that have tarnished Morant's once meteoric rise, including a tear in his labrum and suspensions resulting from troubling behavior such as brandishing a firearm on social media, stated ESPN. While Morant has played in 68 of the team's last 119 games, his performance has seen a decline, with averages dropping to 22.1 points and 7.4 assists per game and a shooting percentage that has seen better days, especially his 28.7% accuracy from beyond the arc since the previous season, as mentioned in hoopsrumors.com.
Despite recent efforts to mend fences, including a reported one-game suspension after a locker room altercation escalating from disagreements on substitution patterns with head coach Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies are considering a pivot away from Morant as a foundational piece of the team. ESPN's Shams Charania suggests that while Memphis isn't shuttering the idea of keeping Morant, they're actively assessing the market for him. The franchise is weighing the merits of acquiring younger talent and draft assets in return for their veteran star, as they continue to foster a promising group of up-and-comers that includes Jaren Jackson Jr., Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Jaylen Wells.
Trade speculation has also been fueled by reporting from Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports and Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, who mentioned that the Timberwolves and Kings, alongside the Miami Heat, might have an interest in the 26-year-old point guard. However, the market's response is wary due to a shift in the game that appears to undervalue high-scoring point guards like Morant, "Ja, Trae and LaMelo (Ball) don’t have that much value because the game has changed around them," an NBA scout pointed out to hoopsrumors.com. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies find themselves in an unenviable 10th in the Western Conference standings with a record of 16-21 as they navigate their options before the looming February 5 trade deadline.
