Ja Morant Trade Rumors Squashed by Grizzlies GM: Won't Give 'Oxygen' to 'Nonsense'

Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman is vehemently dismissing a recent rumor that Ja Morant could be a trade candidate this summer.

Speaking to Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian, Kleiman called the rumors "nonsense" and something he won't give any "oxygen" toward addressing.

The possibility of Morant being moved was first floated by The Ringer's Howard Beck, who noted one NBA executive said to "keep an eye" on Morant as a potential trade candidate this summer if the Grizzlies were to flame out early in the playoffs.

The idea of trading Morant would seem foolish for a Grizzlies team that's loaded with quality young talent. Each of their top eight players by points per game this season are in their age-26 or younger seasons.

Morant is the primary driving force for the group as the point guard. He's in the midst of his fourth consecutive season averaging at least 20 points and seven assists per game.

There aren't any obvious financial concerns that would cause the Grizzlies to make such a dramatic change to their roster. They only have $135.9 million in salary commitments next season, nearly $52 million under the $187.9 million projected tax threshold.

That figure is with 11 players under contract, including Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.

Jackson could sign an extension this summer, with the 2025-26 campaign the final year of his current deal. It would actually be in his best financial interest to wait on a new deal until the summer of 2026 unless he were to make the All-NBA team or win Defensive Player of the Year this season (both seem unlikely at this point).

Morant has been a model teammate so far this season after his reputation took a hit following two incidents in which he was seen brandishing a gun in posts on social media. Both incidents resulted in him being suspended, including a 25-game ban from the NBA to start the 2023-24 season.

Injuries and availability have been a concern for Morant throughout his career. He's never played more than 67 games in a season, and that was during his rookie year in 2019-20.

The Grizzlies have made the playoffs three times since Morant entered the league. Their lone postseason series victory was in the first round in 2022, but they followed that up by losing to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals.

Morant has led the Grizzlies to the second-best record in the West at the All-Star break this season (36-18).