New Ja Morant Trade Rumors on Raptors Amid Heat Buzz Around Grizzlies Star

The Toronto Raptors could emerge as a suitor for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

Fischer reported Thursday "are the only other known team beyond Washington to express any meaningful interest in Trae Young before he was dealt to the Wizards."

Toronto has also explored deals for the Dallas Mavericks' Anthony Davis and Sacramento Kings' Domantas Sabonis.

The Raptors are a prime example of how the big/small market dichotomy doesn't always apply.

Toronto is a cosmopolitan city with a population into the millions. The weather may not be ideal, but the metro area would seemingly have a lot of selling points.

Instead, the Raptors have never been a draw for marquee free agents or even for their own stars. Vince Carter requested a trade. Chris Bosh and Kawhi Leonard bolted as free agents when they could.

Trades are pretty much the only avenue through which the front office can acquire All-Star-caliber talent, hence casting a wide net ahead of this year's NBA trade deadline.

The need to tie down homegrown talent in the face of that situation also led Toronto to give Immanuel Quickley a five-year, $162.5 million extension and bet on his upside.

Quickley is averaging 17.4 points and shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc in his three seasons with the Raptors. He has been a good contributor but not a player worthy of a $32.5 million annual salary.

QUICKLEY GAME-WINNER

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Beyond simply landing Morant, getting off Quickley's deal would be part of the calculus behind this deal.

It's worth asking if Morant is the right target, though.

Toronto is 24th in made three-pointers (11.5 per game) and 29th in three-point percentage (33.9). Acquiring a career 31.0 percent three-point shooter who's making just 20.8 of his attempts in 2025-26 wouldn't help that.

For all of his faults, Young's skill set was at least a better fit for what the Raptors need on offense.

Morant would give Toronto a proven scorer and playmaker, one with a better track record than Quickley. However, his presence may not significantly raise the ceiling for a 25-17 team trying to fortify its position in the top six of the Eastern Conference.