Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is having the worst season of his career to date. (Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford/Getty Images)
As the trade deadline approaches — we’re just over three weeks away — rumors have continued to swirl around Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
Predictably, one team linked to Morant is the Miami Heat, who are 21-19 as they approach the halfway mark of the season. NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported in early December that the Heat have had internal discussions regarding Morant. He doubled down on those reports last weekend.
And the noise has only continued to get louder.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Heat have interest in acquiring the Grizzlies’ disgruntled star.
“The Heat do have interest,” he said recently on Sirius XM NBA. “I would like to see him in Miami. I would like to see him in Miami because of the structure. [Miami Heat president Pat Riley] being there — he’s never been shy to bring on guys who have questionable paths.
“I think it would be good for Ja Morant not just as a player, but as a man to go into there. The Miami culture is different. It really is.”
Chris Haynes reporting on Ja Morant to Miami:
“The Heat do have interest. I would like to see him in Miami. I would like to see him in Miami because of the structure. Pat Riley being there he’s never been shy to bring on guys who have questionable paths. I think it would be good… pic.twitter.com/dw90MpDR3v
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 14, 2026
Morant has missed the Grizzlies’ last five games with a calf contusion. He’s also not expected to play in the team’s international affair Thursday against the Orlando Magic.
In 18 games, he’s averaging the fewest points since his rookie season, while sporting career-lows in field goal percentage (40.1), 3-point percentage (20.8), turnovers per 75 possessions (4.43) and true-shooting percentage (50.6).
This follows Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reporting that the two most frequent destinations he’s hearing from league execs are the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat.
“The Heat feel like a strange stylistic fit,” Mannix wrote. “They are running that same fast moving, Noah LaRoche–inspired offense that Morant hated in Memphis last season. But if Miami acquired Morant, it would undoubtedly pivot back to a more pick-and-roll heavy system. One that might make some of the current players on the roster happy anyway.”
In early November, I discussed why Miami’s adaptation of its offense — or that Morant allegedly did not like — was why he wouldn’t be a current fit.
Of course, if you get him at a bargain bin price, it’s an option worth considering. But it ultimately takes two to tango. Morant’s value isn’t high. But the Grizzlies don’t have to trade the star guard quite yet — unless it’s really desperate to.
According to the Miami Herald‘s Anthony Chiang, talks between the two sides have only been “preliminary,” up to this point.
“There have been preliminary discussions between the Heat and Grizzlies regarding Morant’s availability, according to a league source. Those talks have not yet escalated and a deal is not imminent, with a source characterizing the Heat’s link to Morant as ‘premature.’” —…
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 14, 2026
A deal won’t get done until every side has urgency, so that’s to be expected.
The trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
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