Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant has been rumored to be a trade candidate this season, but many around the league have questions about his worth.
Morant, who is in the third year of a five-year, $197.2 million extension that runs through 2027-28, is in the midst of a significant decline. His average of 17.9 points is his lowest since his rookie year, and he’s shooting career lows of 35.9 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point range. He’s played in fewer than 55 games in each of the last two seasons due to suspensions and injuries, and he’s currently sidelined with a calf strain.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks spoke to multiple people around the NBA who raised concerns about Morant’s trade value.
“The combination of pain in the ass, injury prone, not that good anymore and big contract is a bad one,” said an East executive, who reportedly added that he “wouldn’t want Morant on his roster regardless of salary.”
Despite being just 26, Morant’s injury history already as some questioning if his best days are in the past. He’s drawn comparisons to former NBA star guards Derrick Rose and John Wall, both of whom had their athleticism take a hit due to injuries.
“Has Ja already lost his pop?” a West scout asked. “When is the last time he put his chin above the rim?”
Morant has also had notable confrontations with Grizzlies first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo, leading some to wonder if his poor performance is tied to his unhappiness with the new regime.
“Either you’re declining at a rapidly fast rate, or you’ve quit on this [coach],” a West executive said.
“Ja has been going down, down, down,” a West general manager added. “I don’t know how much of that is due to motivation. You’ve got to be able to look under the hood. I’m just not sure about his health.”
While Morant has a lengthy list of detractors, there are still some who feel that his career can be salvaged, making him a more attractive option over other guards involved in trade rumors like Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young and Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball.
“I think Ja is the one who can maybe be saved,” a West executive said. “If he’s got to prove he can play [to get paid again], you can get him.”
Another West executive added: “It’s a gamble, but I truly believe that Ja will be fine at his next stop. But [the Grizzlies are] going to have to move Ja. They don’t have a choice.”
Perhaps a change of scenery is exactly what Morant needs to return to his old form as a two-time All-Star, so his name will surely come up in trade discussions over the next two months before this season’s deadline.