The Memphis Grizzlies made waves when the franchise traded F Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. As Thursday’s NBA trade deadline nears, the asking price for star PG Ja Morant has “dropped dramatically,” according to The Stein Line.
Below, we’ll provide all the latest details of the trade rumors surrounding Ja Morant. Additionally, we examine the Grizzlies' progress to date in order to accelerate a potential rebuild.
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Ja Morant Trade Rumors
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, multiple teams have stated that the Grizzlies have “dramatically” reduced their asking price for Morant.
The discounted rate reportedly leads many rival executives to believe that the Grizzlies are ready to begin a true rebuild centered around second-year C Zach Edey and rookie F Cedric Coward.
In terms of suitors, the Miami Heat are a potential destination for Morant ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, the Heat are a team that would be willing to invest in Morant’s services for the right price tag.
Iko also reports that there is a “growing thought” Miami would pay Morant the contract extension that he desires. Morant is currently in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million contract extension that he signed with Memphis back in 2022.
Morant is currently out of the lineup due to an elbow injury and is slated to be reevaluated later this month. In 20 games this season, the star guard has averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while shooting a career-low 23.5% from beyond the arc.
It certainly wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Morant traded by the Grizzlies based on their recent activity. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are "prioritizing their young core,” and multiple teams are interested in acquiring Morant.
On Tuesday, Memphis moved on from Jaren Jackson Jr. in an eight-player trade with the Utah Jazz that netted the team three future first-round picks.
During the 2025 offseason, the Grizzlies began laying the foundation for a potential rebuild. In June, Memphis traded G Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for G Cole Anthony, G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and four unprotected first-round picks.
If Morant does end up getting moved, it will truly be a changing of the guard in Memphis.
Coward has enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign in which he’s averaged 13.8 PPG and 6.2 RPG in a swingman role. Meanwhile, Edey has showcased his ability as a dependable big, but is currently out of the lineup due to an ankle injury and has been limited to just 11 games this season.
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Make NBA Trade Predictions on PrizePicks
Rumors tell us that Ja Morant could be one of several players on the move heading up to Thursday’s trade deadline. As more news rolls out, you can make predictions on NBA trades with PrizePicks Team Picks — now available in 34 states. Predict if players will or won't be traded before the deadline, where they'll land, and more in the NBA Player Futures category.
Check out the Playbook throughout the season for more NBA trade news, plus picks and predictions every day through the 2025-26 season.
