Ja Morant’s future with the Memphis Grizzlies is cloudy as the NBA trade deadline gets closer.
The Grizzlies are reportedly “entertaining offers” for a possible Morant trade, and now a “dark-horse” team has emerged as a potential suitor, according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports.
“One possible dark-horse team that executives continue to paint as a hypothetical is Toronto, which is currently eight games over .500 and fourth in the East,” Iko wrote.
Morant’s name has been tossed around in trade rumors for essentially the entire season, but the Grizzlies are now open to it in hopes of acquiring young players and draft picks in return for the two-time All-Star.
The Raptors surfacing as a team with interest is something to monitor, and Iko notes that the Immanuel Quickly and RJ Barrett pairing has Toronto in a bit of “purgatory” due to their combined $60 million earnings this year.
The Raptors are also in fourth place in the Eastern Conference as of Monday, so adding a player such as Morant could be a good move for now and in the future.
Morant has played just 18 games this season due to injuries and a one-game suspension earlier in the year following a confrontation with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo.
Morant is currently under contract through the 2027-28 season, and he can sign a three-year, $178 million extension as soon as this offseason.
