The Memphis Grizzlies are at a crossroads. After a chaotic 2023–24 campaign and a short-lived bounce-back season that now looks destined to end in another early playoff exit, the conversation around Ja Morant’s long-term future has shifted from “when he returns to form” to “when will Memphis pull the trigger?”
Morant, still just 25, remains one of the league’s most explosive guards, but between off-court turbulence, on-court inconsistency, and a Grizzlies team that doesn’t look close to contention, the timing may finally be right for a blockbuster move.
The 2024–25 season offered a mixed bag for Ja. When healthy and active, he showed flashes of his All-NBA self but questions about fit, leadership, and whether this Grizzlies core has already peaked continue to loom. It didn’t help that head coach Taylor Jenkins was shockingly fired and we weeks before the playoffs started.
Add in the rise of Desmond Bane, the value of Jaren Jackson Jr. as a culture-setter, and a new front office unwilling to get stuck in mediocrity, and it’s clear: Memphis has to at least listen this summer.
So what could a Ja Morant trade even look like? It won’t be a fire sale. This is still a 25+ PPG guard with elite athleticism under contract through 2027-28 (earning $44.9 million in 2027-28).
It’ll take a massive return but the right franchise, in the right situation, could roll the dice on a superstar reboot. Let’s break down the three best trade packages that would reshape the league and give Ja the fresh start he might need.
Miami Heat
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson, 2025 First-Round Pick (GSW), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)
If there’s any franchise built to take a risk on a talent like Ja Morant, it’s the Miami Heat. Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra have made a habit of maximizing volatile stars in a culture-first environment, and pairing Ja with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo could form one of the league’s most unpredictable and explosive trios.
Despite Morant’s off-court history, Miami has never been afraid to embrace edge, especially when it comes with 25+ points, 8+ assists, and relentless rim pressure. The addition of Brandon Clarke (returning from injury but once one of the NBA’s reliable bigs) and a capable role player in John Konchar gives Miami immediate bench depth as well.
From Memphis’ side, this deal would be about changing the franchise’s tone and trajectory. Andrew Wiggins may not be a star, but he’s a playoff-tested veteran who just shot 37.4% from three in 2024–25 and still defends opposing wings at a high level.
Terry Rozier, while streaky and currently battling some legal issues, averaged 10.6 points and 2.6 assists this season and can stabilize the backcourt in the short term. But the real upside is in Kel’el Ware—an athletic 7-footer with a growing jumper and defensive instincts—and Pelle Larsson, an all-around wing with glue-guy potential.
Plus, Memphis would walk away with two first-round picks, including a valuable Warriors selection in 2025. This package won’t wow fans hoping for a blockbuster young star in return, but it offers balance.
The Grizzlies would essentially reset without tanking, retool around Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr, and buy themselves time to rebuild the culture.
Houston Rockets
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, 2025 First-Round Pick (HOU), 2027 First-Round Pick (HOU)
Now this is a high-voltage swap. Houston’s core has rapidly matured into a legitimate contender, with a 50-win season and a first-round playoff matchup against the Warriors putting them ahead of schedule.
But there’s still a missing piece for the Rockets: a true downhill guard who can collapse defenses and make life easier for Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. Enter Ja Morant.
Pairing Morant with Amen Thompson (budding two-way star), Dillon Brooks (defensive dog), and Sengun could instantly make Houston one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league, and the culture that Ime Udoka has built might be just what Ja needs.
On the other end, Memphis gets two of the more intriguing young prospects in the league. Jalen Green may be inconsistent, but he put up 21.0 points per game on 35.4% from three this season and has the athletic upside to be a lead guard with more structure.
Cam Whitmore was quietly a revelation as the year went on, bringing downhill aggression, solid rebounding, and the type of scoring punch that fits beautifully next to Desmond Bane.
Both are under 24, both are under team control, and both could immediately plug into a rebuild that doesn’t feel like one. Of course, losing a franchise star always comes with some draft assets so two first-rounders will do wonders for their long-term rebuild around Bane, Jackson, and Green.
This is the cleanest “star-for-star” concept available for Memphis. They don’t get picks in this one, but the talent return is high, the contracts are manageable, and the locker room headaches go out the door. Meanwhile, Houston would have to embrace risk but it could be the bold swing that takes them from rising upstart to Western Conference elite.
Orlando Magic
Proposed Trade Details
Orlando Magic Receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Jalen Suggs, Tristan da Silva, 2025 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2027 First-Round Pick (ORL), 2031 First-Round Pick (ORL)
Orlando is slightly ahead of schedule as well, and this might be the healthiest and most surprising Ja Morant destination out there. The Magic have struggled to score at times, and nobody might expect them to make such a major move for a player of Morant’s caliber, but it seems feasible that they should.
With Paolo Banchero becoming a certified All-Star and Franz Wagner evolving into one of the NBA’s best two-way wings, what the Magic still lack is a guard who can create offense without needing constant ball movement and system help.
Ja Morant solves that overnight. His 23.2 points and 7.3 assists this season would inject life into an Orlando backcourt that, for all its effort, still leans a bit too heavily on system offense.
The price is steep, though. Jalen Suggs has emerged as a defensive star and an emotional leader in Orlando. He averaged 16.2 points and routinely took the toughest defensive assignments each night.
Tristan da Silva, a stretch-four rookie with IQ and touch, is also a clean developmental piece. This package sacrifices some of the Magic’s defensive backbone, but if the front office believes in Paolo as a future MVP candidate, surrounding him with a co-star like Ja may be the next logical step.
From Memphis’ perspective, this deal is about fit and foundation. Suggs would bring instant intensity and defensive stability, complementing Bane and Jackson perfectly. Of course, the three first-round picks will do wonders for their long-term rebuild. It may not be a flashy return, but it could quietly be the best basketball deal for a team trying to build an identity again.
