After a top star from the 2018 NBA Draft was just traded in Luka Doncic, a top star from the 2019 NBA Draft could be the next one on the move.
In an appearance this week on the “Real Ones” podcast, Howard Beck of The Ringer indicated that the Memphis Grizzlies could end up trading away their franchise player Ja Morant this offseason. Beck cited intel from an anonymous NBA executive.
“I’m constantly checking in with executives around trade deadline,” said Beck, per The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “And in this league, you are always, always, always on the lookout for who’s the next wave of stars that are going to get dealt, right? We just saw the shock of all shocks with the Luka deal. We saw Jimmy Butler. There’s already whispers once again about Giannis [Antetokounmpo].
“And somebody out of the blue said, ‘Keep an eye on Ja this summer,'” Beck added.
The 25-year-old Morant is the face of the Grizzlies right now and has already made multiple All-Star teams as well as an All-NBA team. But he is currently in the midst of a down season for Memphis, averaging 20.7 points per game (his fewest since 2020-21) on very mediocre 45/32/81 shooting splits.
On top of that, Morant is often injured (appearing in just 32 of 54 games for the Grizzlies this year), and his off-court maturity problems are very well-documented at this point. Morant’s reckless style of play is also a source of major concern, including among some top basketball voices.
With Memphis still thriving this season at 36-18 (No. 2 in the West) despite a reduced contribution from Morant, an eventual breakup might not be the craziest idea in the world. Morant is still under contract for three more seasons after this one after agreeing to a five-year, $197.2 million rookie extension with the Grizzlies back in 2022. But if Memphis decides that Morant is not worth the continued risk due to his health, his maturity, and his other various issues, they might indeed be wise to explore the possibility of opening up the bidding process for him.
