Why Ja Morant’s trade market is falling apart fast

The window for Ja Morant to find a new NBA home is not yet closed, but it keeps narrowing. With two significant potential trade partners no longer in the picture, the Memphis Grizzlies and their embattled star guard are approaching a crossroads that will define both their immediate futures and longer-term trajectories.

Morant has not formally requested a trade, and the Grizzlies have not publicly declared they want to move him. But the evidence suggests both sides understand a separation may be inevitable. Memphis has already dealt Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in recent years, leaving Morant as the last remaining piece of a core that collectively won 101 games during the franchise’s peak from 2021 to 2023. A 25-57 record this past season and two playoff absences in three years make it difficult to argue the current arrangement is working for anyone.

The 2 teams that said no

The most recent blow to Morant’s trade market came when the New Orleans Pelicans stepped back from any meaningful dialogue on a potential deal, instead shifting their focus toward finding a new situation for forward Trey Murphy III. The pivot was notable because New Orleans had at one point been considered a genuine candidate.

Minnesota represented another logical fit on paper. An explosive, aggressive point guard playing alongside Anthony Edwards could have been a compelling combination in Minneapolis. But the Timberwolves never advanced those conversations beyond the surface level, and with the team now reconfiguring its roster following other moves, that window appears to have closed as well.

The contract complication nobody can ignore

Part of the problem is Morant’s remaining financial commitment. He is owed $42.2 million in the 2026-27 season and $44.9 million in 2027-28, totaling roughly $87 million in obligations over two years. His contract carries no no-trade clause or player opt-out, but it does include a trade kicker requiring Memphis to pay an additional 15% of the remaining contract value in the event of a trade, adding a meaningful layer of cost and complexity to any negotiation.

Morant’s on-court production over the past three seasons has not helped simplify the calculus either. He has missed 167 games during that stretch due to a combination of injuries and suspensions. This past season was among the most difficult of his career, as he appeared in just 20 games while dealing with calf soreness and a UCL sprain in his left elbow, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists while shooting a career-low 41.0% from the field.

The 3 teams that could still make a move

Despite the complications, realistic candidates exist. The three teams most worth watching are: 1) the Brooklyn Nets, who are in full rebuild mode and could absorb Morant’s salary while betting on a bounce-back season from a talent who, at his best, finished seventh in MVP voting; 2) the Sacramento Kings, who have a history of pursuing high-upside moves and may view Morant’s playmaking ceiling as worth the risk; and 3) the Houston Rockets, a young and ascending team that could see his scoring and creation ability as a complement to what they are already building.

None of those conversations have been confirmed as active, but the logic is present for each. The upcoming draft and free agency frenzy could also clarify the market if other teams fail to land their preferred targets, which would give Memphis slightly more leverage the deeper the summer runs.

What staying in Memphis might look like

If no trade materializes before training camp, Morant would return to a Grizzlies roster that will feature young pieces like Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells alongside whoever Memphis selects with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 draft. Whether Morant would embrace a mentorship role beside a potential new franchise cornerstone, or find that dynamic increasingly uncomfortable, remains one of the most unresolved questions surrounding the franchise heading into what promises to be a decisive offseason.