Examining the ideal landing spots for Ja Morant

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Memphis Grizzlies are, for the first time, entertaining trade offers for franchise point guard Ja Morant.

It’s a development that would have sounded unthinkable just a couple of years ago, when Morant was viewed as the face of Memphis’ rise and one of the league’s most electrifying young stars.

But the circumstances have shifted. Morant’s off-court issues over the past seasons, combined with Memphis’ recent philosophical change toward more ball movement and a less ball-dominant offense, have complicated his fit with the franchise. His production has also dipped compared to his All-NBA level peak, further fueling speculation about whether the Grizzlies are better off recalibrating their timeline.

Still, Morant remains a special talent. At his best, he is among the most devastating downhill attackers in the NBA – capable of collapsing defenses, putting relentless pressure on the rim, and creating advantages that few guards can replicate. While his jump shooting remains a question mark, his star power, athleticism, and ability to tilt a defense ensure that teams around the league would line up if Memphis truly opens the door.

From a trade-value standpoint, acquiring Morant would likely require at least one of the following: a young star of lesser value, a promising developmental player, or future draft capital that allows Memphis to retool around Jaren Jackson Jr. and their remaining core. With that in mind, here are the teams that make the most sense as potential landing spots:

Timberwolves address their point guard void with Morant

Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Julius Randle, Rob Dillingham

The Timberwolves’ need for a true point guard has quietly been one of their biggest weaknesses this season. While Minnesota has size, defense, and a legitimate superstar in Anthony Edwards, they’ve lacked a consistent engine to organize the offense and create rim pressure in half-court situations.

Morant immediately solves that. His presence would unlock easier scoring opportunities for Edwards, take pressure off Minnesota’s wings, and add a dimension of speed and chaos that the Wolves currently lack.

This move also finally allows Minnesota to reshape its frontcourt. Sliding Naz Reid into the starting four spot might be the final piece for the Wolves to truly contend. Reid, Edwards, and Jaden McDaniels – the team’s core guys that were drafted from 2019 to 2020 – form a young, versatile core that aligns with Minnesota’s championship timeline, while Morant becomes the catalyst that raises their offensive ceiling.

From Memphis’ perspective, Rob Dillingham is the intrigue. He has flashed shot creation and confidence, and with the Grizzlies’ strong player development infrastructure, there’s reason to believe he could thrive in a new role. Julius Randle, meanwhile, gives Memphis flexibility. They could flip him to a contender seeking a ball-handling forward – or experiment with lineups featuring Randle alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama, three forwards capable of playing off one another in different ways.

Rockets fix their point guard problem

Houston Rockets receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr.

Houston’s season unraveled before it even began when Fred VanVleet was ruled out for the year with a knee injury. Since then, the Rockets have cycled through options: – Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and even Alperen Sengun as a de facto playmaking hub – but the lack of a proven point guard has limited their ceiling.

That issue has only been magnified after acquiring a 37-year-old Kevin Durant, who, remarkably, is still playing at an elite level. If Houston is serious about maximizing its window, a move like this makes sense.

Morant gives the Rockets a legitimate playmaker and rim attacker, someone who can collapse defenses and simplify the game for everyone else. Most importantly, it allows Durant to shift into more off-ball scoring situations where he remains virtually unstoppable. It also allows Amen Thompson to play and maximize his strengths as an off-ball cutter and weakside dunk spot finisher, and Reed Sheppard to grow into his role as a hotshot guard off the bench.

For Memphis, Jabari Smith Jr. represents a long-term bet. He’s still young, still moldable, and still talented enough to fit into a future core if developed correctly. VanVleet’s contract and injury situation give the Grizzlies options: he could be a veteran voice in the locker room, a salary dump that can be waived and create more financial flexibility, or a trade chip in a separate deal. Flexibility is the real return here for Memphis, and this could be the deciding factor in this mock trade.

Heat Culture takes a swing on star power

Miami Heat receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, 2029 first-round pick

This trade is less about fit and more about environment. Miami has spent years chasing stars – Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard, for starters – only to come up short. Morant represents another swing, but one with a different risk-reward profile.

For the Heat, moving Tyler Herro is painful. He’s a homegrown talent who has blossomed into an All-Star caliber scorer. But Morant raises Miami’s ceiling in a way Herro cannot. His explosiveness, ability to draw defensive attention, and sheer star presence would inject life into a roster that often struggles to generate easy offense.

There’s also the belief that the so-called “Heat Culture” could help Morant reset his ways, especially the off-court stuff. Miami has long been confident in its structure, discipline, and accountability, and this would be the ultimate test of that reputation in trying to get the most out of Morant.

Memphis, meanwhile, gets a young all-star in Herro, a young player in Jovic with upside and a future first-round pick. It’s a clean retooling move that preserves flexibility while adding depth and developmental pieces.

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Bucks make one last pitch to appease Giannis

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, 2031 first-round pick

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name circulating in trade rumors is enough to send shockwaves through the league. For Milwaukee, a move like this is about showing Giannis they’re still all-in.

Pairing Morant with Giannis would instantly make the Bucks one of the most dangerous teams in the East. The downhill pressure from both stars would be overwhelming, and the move signals desperation in the best possible way: a franchise refusing to waste its window. A Morant-Antetokounmpo duo would be one of, if not the best rim-pressuring duo in the league, and along with three shooters on the floor, they could make serious noise out East.

For Memphis, the appeal lies less in the players and more in the future. Kuzma, Portis, and Anthony are all movable rotation pieces, but that 2031 first-round pick is the prize. History has shown that teams contending now often surrender incredibly valuable picks down the line, especially once their championship window closes and Memphis would be all in on that development in the future.

Kings retool and move forward to a different direction

Sacramento Kings receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies receive: DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, 2028 first-round pick

Sacramento’s roster construction this season has been chaotic. Too many players overlap in roles, veterans clog developmental minutes, and there’s no clear identity or direction.

This trade would trigger a hard reset.

The Kings have already cycled through franchise point guards in Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox. If they get Morant, he gives them another chance to build around an elite floor general –  this time alongside Domantas Sabonis. It also frees up minutes to properly develop their young pieces Keegan Murray, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud. A lineup of Morant, Keon Ellis, Clifford, Murray, and Sabonis with Raynaud off the bench would be a good start to turn the franchise around after just having their first playoff appearance in 16 years just two years ago.

For Memphis, the return is practical. DeRozan’s expiring contract offers veteran leadership and flexibility, Monk’s deal is tradable to another team for more future assets, and the first-round pick adds future value.