Some major updates have emerged on why the Memphis Grizzlies were unsuccessful in trying to move Ja Morant despite having […]
Some major updates have emerged on why the Memphis Grizzlies were unsuccessful in trying to move Ja Morant despite having him on the trade block for weeks.
Back in 2023, the two-time All-Star was emerging as a player who could become one of the long-term faces of the NBA. Morant can be an electrifying scorer that mirrors one-time NBA MVP Derrick Rose at his peak, but with a swagger the Chicago Bulls legend didn’t have.
However, over the last three seasons, Morant’s reputation has been badly damaged due to a variety of off-court allegations, major issues staying healthy, and a schism with Memphis head coach Tuomas Iisalo earlier this season. Things came to a head in January when rumors emerged that Morant was available and being shopped by the team.
Despite his decline over the last few years, he has superstar potential. That is something many teams will take a risk on. And franchises like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat reportedly had pivoted to a Ja Morant trade when their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo failed this week. Yet a deal was never made.
Rival teams wanted draft picks to take Ja Morant and his baggage in trade
"Ja Morant better wake the hell up. Cause in two years, after this contract, he could find himself out the league…nobody wants you!" Kendrick Perkins pic.twitter.com/rpKvstT6qm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 5, 2026
The reason why is that many teams around the game see very little value in him anymore despite his previous success. One executive reportedly told Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, “You just can’t count on him to be available.” The two-time All-Star has played in only 79 games the last three seasons due to suspensions and injuries.
On a Friday edition of Get Up, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst added more to the narrative about Morant’s destroyed value when he claimed rival teams actually want draft compensation to take on the talented guard and his baggage.
“When I say he has no value, I don’t even think that’s accurate,” Windhorst said. “I think he’s got, what they call in the league, ‘negative value.’ And what that means is teams were not willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also attached draft compensation. In other words, you have to pay us to take him.”
The NBA insider claimed that while fellow players are surprised teams aren’t jumping at the chance to get him, he believes Morant simply isn’t the player he used to be. He was at his best when he drove to the basket often. After dealing with various injuries the last two seasons, he has seemingly lost his courage to do that.
On Thursday, fellow ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins suggested that if Morant can’t prove he is still an All-Star-level player over the final two years of his contract, he may wash out of the league in 2028.
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Category: General Sports
