Heat, Bucks, Raptors now know what Grizzlies want in Ja Morant trade

Jeremy Beren

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Heat, Bucks, Raptors now know what Grizzlies want in Ja Morant trade image

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Speculation persists over the future of Ja Morant.

The Memphis Grizzlies ruled Morant out of Thursday's game in Berlin, Germany against the Orlando Magic. But as the two-time All-Star continues to recover from a right calf contusion, possibility is growing that he has played his final game for the Grizzlies already.

MORE: Heat fans think they have definitive 'proof' that Ja Morant wants to be traded to Miami

The Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors are among the teams that have been linked with Morant, and all three can feasibly acquire the 26-year-old -- whose trade value has diminished significantly amid his pedestrian offensive output this season.

According to veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, the Grizzlies are letting it be known that they will deal Morant for a package centered on "at least" one first-round pick and a young player to help them retool around former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Heat have their own first round in the 2026 NBA Draft and control the rights to their first-rounders between 2028 and 2032. The Raptors control the vast majority of their picks between now and 2032. Those two teams would appear to be the top contenders to land Morant, who is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists in 18 games this season.

The Bucks though are significantly more hamstrung by this request. Barring pick swaps, Milwaukee does not control its own first-rounder for the remainder of the decade. That would make it more challenging to acquire Morant as a running mate for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Staff Writer