Ja Morant Trade Bombshell: NBA Insiders’ Bold Prediction About Grizzlies’ Next Move

 

Ja Morant Trade Bombshell: NBA Insiders’ Bold Prediction About Grizzlies’ Next Move 

 

With the trade of star player Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in the 2025 NBA offseason, the Memphis Grizzlies reduced their “big three” to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Without Bane, the Grizzlies could still have a respectable chance at a playoff berth in 2025–26.

 

They have strengthened their backcourt without Bane by acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Magic, adding Ty Jerome through free agency, and selecting Cedric Coward eleventh overall, but they will likely still have a long way to go before they can compete in the brutal Western Conference.

 

In addition to renegotiating and extending the contract of the 2022–23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the Grizzlies demonstrated their dedication to him by trading away Bane.

 

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps stated that the Grizzlies are “not looking” to move Morant or Jackson Jr. Now, Jackson Jr. has a $240 million debt that he must pay back over five years.

 

Could things turn around for Morant, even though the Grizzlies are prepared to make a long-term commitment to Jackson Jr.?

 

Even though he is a phenomenal player and has established himself as one of the NBA’s top point guards, Morant has struggled to maintain his health over the previous two seasons.

 

With just 59 games under his belt since the 2023–24 season began, the team may start looking into other possibilities in 2025–26 if Morant continues to struggle.

 

 

Is Morant a trade candidate?

 ESPN recently polled a group of its NBA insiders and asked them who the next superstar to request a trade will be. While New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson won the vote with Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James right behind him, Morant got some unexpected attention on the poll.

 

One of ESPN’s insiders voted that Morant would be the next superstar to request a trade.

 

The assumption here is that it is not even the Grizzlies that would get tired of Morant’s injury concerns or off-court problems; it is Morant who would be ready to move on.

The star point guard has shown minimal signs of ever wanting out of Memphis, as he has become an icon in the city and for the struggling franchise, but there is certainly a scenario where he searches for a new opportunity.

Morant, 26, will likely eventually want to play for a big market and compete at the highest level, because even when the Grizzlies were a top two seed in the West in consecutive seasons, it never felt like they were legitimate championship contenders.

If Morant ever requests a trade out of Memphis, then that would be a signal for the franchise that it is likely time to restart.