The Memphis Grizzlies have reached the point of considering a Ja Morant trade.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the phone lines are open for the first time. Although Morant was a potential trade candidate at the beginning of the 2025-2026 NBA season, the star guard wasn’t getting serious trade consideration from his club.
That seems be changing, which signals a change in the Grizzlies’ thinking.
Just in: For the first time, the Memphis Grizzlies are entertaining offers to potentially move two-time All-Star Ja Morant ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. Pic.twitter.com/SD0RT9Jhuj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2026
What’s the Early Price Tag?
The Grizzlies are assumed to be prioritizing draft picks and young players in exchange for the high-flying star.
It seems the Grizzlies aren’t star hunting in this case, which says a lot about their path going forward.
The Rebuilding Reality
It might be that time.
Memphis is struggling with and without Morant in the lineup this season. Mix that with the fact that Morant has expressed frustration with two versions of the Grizzlies’ coaching staff, and Memphis finds itself in a tough spot.
According to Charania, Jaren Jackson is the player the Grizzlies currently want to build around. Acquiring draft capital would mean they can begin scouting prospects that fit around Jackson, specifically, and not Morant.
However, it’s been made clear that the Grizzlies aren’t desperate to trade Morant. They are reportedly “open” to continuing with Morant as a focal point of a “retool.”
But the Grizzlies should accept the fact that the Morant era might’ve run its course. The last time the Grizzlies made it out of the first round was during the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Since then, they’ve made the playoffs two out of the next three seasons, losing in round one each time. Last year, Memphis was swept by the eventual champs.
The Grizzlies are sitting 10th in the Western Conference with a 16-21 record currently. They’ve won just three of their last 10 games. Morant is having a down year (19.0 PPG, 7.6 APG, 40% FG), and the future doesn’t look so bright.
The Grizzlies are unlikely to strike a deal without some notable assets to build a better future, but they should strongly consider turning the page at this point.