Trade Packages and Landing Spots If Grizzlies Deal Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies emphatically claimed in February that they have zero interest in trading away two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant.

The rest of the NBA isn't so sure about that.

Despite the denials on the Grizzlies' side of things, there remains plenty of "whispering and rumbling" about Morant's potential availability, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. There's also some debate inside the Association about whether Morant "is a top-10 player when he's healthy anymore," per MacMahon.

If nothing else, the vibes appear to be less than immaculate on Beale Street, with the Grizzlies having a single playoff series victory to show for the entirety of Morant's six-year tenure. Memphis already ditched former head coach Taylor Jenkins, so it's possible more changes could be coming this summer.

Should the Grizzlies decide they're prepared to pave a new path without Morant, they should find a number of suitors willing to make that happen. Five teams in particular loom as logical landing spots, so we've thrown together and analyzed some hypothetical trade packages.

These are presented as frameworks of a deal and not necessarily exact dollar-for-dollar swaps given the incomplete nature of most NBA payrolls at this juncture.

Houston Rockets

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Rockets receive: Ja Morant and Jay Huff

Grizzlies receive: Fred VanVleet, Cam Whitmore, 2025 first-round pick (via PHX) and 2028 first-round pick (top-four protected)

Why Rockets Do It

Houston's failure to launch this postseason was directly tied to its offensive deficiencies. The Rockets averaged only 93.3 points in their four losses to the Golden State Warriors, which is an untenable number even for a defense as feisty as theirs.

Finding an offensive focal point could unlock this group's championship potential. Morant would not only fill that void, but he also happens to be on the same timeline as the Rockets' young core. And since he's had some availability issues in recent years, Houston might be able to add him without fully depleting its asset collection.

While minutes could be hard to come by for Huff, his ability to function as a pure stretch 5 would give Huoston's offense a bit of breathing room when his number gets called.

Why Grizzlies Do It

If Memphis moves on from Morant, it probably won't want to take a back a fully future-focused package. Not when Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are still around to lead this competitive roster. VanVleet, who contributed to the Toronto Raptors' championship run in 2019 and has made 59 career playoff appearances, could up their competitiveness and give guidance on what's required to win at the highest level.

If the Grizzlies move Morant to Houston specifically, they would be remiss not to tap into the Rockets' rich asset collection. Here, they'd fetch an uber-athletic 20-year-old in Whitmore, a current lottery pick (that Houston would only move after learning the lottery results) and a lightly protected future first-rounder.

Miami Heat

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Heat receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jović and a 2025 first-round pick (via GSW)

Why Heat Do It

The Heat have long been on the lookout for a fix to their offensive woes. Plus, they're a logical suitor whenever a star reaches the trade market. There are myriad reasons to think they'd want in on a Morant megadeal, not the least of which is how his competitive drive seems like a snug fit with their famed #culture.

While Miami's offensive spacing could get squeezed between Morant and Bam Adebayo, those two could still work magic in the pick-and-roll game and in the open floor. Plus, that's less of a concern if Miami managed to fill its other three starting spots with viable long-range shooters, which could be possible if rookie big man Kel'el Ware crushes his developmental work this offseason.

Why Grizzlies Do It

If Memphis seeks out established talent in return for Morant, Herro might be the best player this front office can hope to get. While he slowed down a touch in the second half of the season and basically stalled out in the playoffs, the 25-year-old just earned his first All-Star nod this year and was one of only eight players to average at least 23 points, five assists and three three-pointers per game.

If the Grizzlies view Herro as a building block, they might not need much else to let go of Morant. Jović is still finding his footing, but he offers an intriguing mix of offensive skills for someone his size (6'10") and age (21). And while this draft pick would land outside of the lottery, it would give the Heat's front office another throw at the dartboard.

New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones and a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected via IND)

Why Pelicans Do It

While New Orleans could probably be talked into trading Zion Williamson at the right price, the Pels still seem intrigued by his what-if possibilities should he ever manage to avoid the injury bug. And if they ever coax a healthy campaign out of him, they have to make the most of it.

So, why not lean even more into these boom-or-bust hopes by reuniting Williamson with his old AAU teammate? If they could just stay upright, they'd destroy defenses in transition and overpower them on pick-and-rolls. There is legitimate three-headed-monster potential with those two and Trey Murphy III, plus New Orleans would still have a solid supporting cast around it.

Why Grizzlies Do It

If Memphis wants to maximize competitiveness in its post-Morant chapter, this could be one of the best ways to do it. Jones would be a massive get as an elite big-wing stopper, and while he's a limited shooter, he still manages to make his mark offensively.

The Grizzlies would have to wait on Murray's recovery from a torn Achilles that he suffered in January, but assuming he gets back to 100 percent, he could challenge for top-10 status at the point. Add a future first-rounder to the pile, and that's a fairly compelling haul for a two-time All-Star with significant availability concerns.

Orlando Magic

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Magic receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, a 2025 first-round pick (via DEN), a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected) and a 2028 first-round pick (top-two protected)

Why Magic Do It

If they ever hope to be more than a pesky first-round opponent, they have to address their offensive issues. While Morant wouldn't help with their shooting shortage, his creation, passing and downhill attacking would all help resuscitate their 27th-ranked offense.

It might take a minute to find the right distribution of touches for Morant, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but the end result could be a steady stream of pick-your-poison scenarios for opponents. Orlando would have to prioritize spacing with its other spots, but bounce-back years from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jalen Suggs along with a healthy Mo Wagner could make that much more manageable.

Why Grizzlies Do It

Of all the theoretical deals discussed here, this would represent the smallest win-now return for the Grizzlies. Maybe that's OK. Maybe chasing maximum competitiveness would be the wrong way to handle Morant's exit. Perhaps slowing down a bit and stockpiling some assets would allow Memphis to eventually ascend to heights it never reached with Morant.

The Grizzlies would get a good number of assets here. That's especially true if Black, the No. 6 pick in 2023, finds a way to grow his offensive game. Isaac is a disruptive defender when healthy, and Anthony is a quick-strike scorer with a competitive edge that should fit right in with the Grizzlies. And while Howard hasn't shown much through two NBA seasons, he's still a 21-year-old recent lottery pick who initially grabbed attention for his combination of size (6'8") and shooting potential.

Sacramento Kings

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Kings receive: Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive: DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, Jonas Valančiūnas and a 2027 first-round pick (top-three protected)

Why Kings Do It

Back in February, the Kings went from having a franchise floor general in De'Aaron Fox to basically leaving the lead guard position empty. Sacramento did not bring back a point guard in the four-team Fox trade, and that void in the backcourt has not gone unnoticed.

"The biggest thing we need is a point guard, that's for sure," Kings star center Domantas Sabonis told reporters at his exit interview.

The Kings arguably couldn't find a better Fox replacement than Morant, who brings a similar blend of quickness, athleticism, scoring and table-setting. Sacramento must find an identity and add a point guard who can make sense of this roster; an aggressive deal for Morant could check both boxes.

Why Grizzlies Do It

If Memphis wants immediate impact and long-term assets in a Morant deal, Sacramento could provide that. The Grizzlies should have enough shooting to keep the mid-range clear for DeRozan, who could toggle between primary, secondary and tertiary scoring duties with Bane and Jackson. There should be enough point production between the three to keep this attack in the Association's upper half, and that's without accounting for what Valančiūnas (who previously played in Memphis) would bring as a post scorer and shooter.

There would be some worries regarding the club's ceiling, though, which is why the Grizzlies would also place a few future-focused wagers here. One would be on Carter, last year's No. 13 pick, growing into a two-way connector role with time and a cleaner bill of health. The other would be on Sacramento failing to figure things out with Morant and turning the 2027 first-rounder into a valuable asset.