This NBA trade deadline is shaping up to be a quiet one, but not because the league lacks uncertainty. It is a buyer’s market defined by hesitation. Draft capital is scarce, sellers are wary of setting poor precedents, and teams holding star-level talent are increasingly tempted to wait rather than accept diminished returns. In many cases, that caution is understandable.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, it may be counterproductive. The larger reality surrounding Ja Morant is that time has not been working in Memphis’ favor. Morant may rediscover his peak form, or he may not. What is far more certain is that his trade value has already been pressured by declining efficiency, durability concerns, and relentless off-court scrutiny. There is no guarantee the market ever meaningfully rebounds.
Morant is only 26, which complicates any attempt to frame this as an obvious teardown. But youth alone cannot offset the instability that has followed him the past several seasons. Memphis has spent more time managing uncertainty than building momentum, and that drag is beginning to define the franchise as much as its on-court identity.
Waiting for clarity has become a risk of its own. That context matters when evaluating any potential deal. The Trae Young trade helped establish the upper bounds of what teams are currently willing to pay for a distressed star. Morant’s situation carries similar, if not greater, concerns. Even a modest improvement in play may not be enough to materially shift the market.
At some point, the question stops being about maximizing return and starts being about direction.
If Memphis is prepared to turn the page, the Los Angeles Clippers may represent one of the few teams positioned — and desperate enough — to capitalize.
LA Clippers Land Ja Morant in NBA Trade Proposal
Memphis Grizzlies Receive:
Los Angeles Clippers Receive:
Why the Memphis Grizzlies Do the Deal
Recent reporting has suggested Memphis is operating with a different philosophy than Atlanta did in its Trae Young negotiations. Where the Hawks prioritized short-term flexibility and young players such as Corey Kispert, the Grizzlies have been portrayed as more willing to absorb undesirable money if it comes attached to real draft assets.
This proposal only partially fits that description. Collins’ contract expires after this season, and Bogdanović’s runs through next year. The Clippers do not possess obvious long-term albatross deals that would justify a larger draft return.
Still, Memphis would receive a lightly protected first-round pick and two rotation-capable veterans. Neither Collins nor Bogdanović carries the same trade value as Kispert, which helps explain the inclusion of draft compensation. In the current environment, this is a defensible market return.
More importantly, the Grizzlies’ calculus should extend beyond asset optimization. Morant has been limited to 18 games this season due to multiple injuries and a one-game suspension in early November for conduct detrimental to the team. He is averaging 19.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting a career-low 40.1% from the field and 20.8% from three.
That profile does not scream “hold and hope.”
There is also an emotional and cultural toll that comes with prolonged ambiguity. The daily speculation surrounding Morant’s future has become a constant background noise. At some point, Memphis needs clarity, even if it comes at a cost.
Why the Los Angeles Clippers Do the Deal
The argument for Morant has always been rooted in upside. He once looked like an MVP-caliber guard capable of warping defenses and elevating an entire franchise.
The Clippers may be uniquely positioned to take that risk.
This is an aging, asset-light roster with limited pathways to improvement. The organization appears stuck between contention and decline, lacking both flexibility and a clear long-term direction. Simply put, it looks directionless.
That may be exactly when a Hail Mary makes sense.
If the move fails, the downside is manageable. Losing control of a 2031 first-round pick complicates future trades under the Stepien Rule, but that is a modest price if Morant approaches his previous ceiling. In a buyer’s market, this is the type of swing few teams can justify — but the Clippers might have to.
Bigger Picture for Ja Morant
Morant may never fully return to form. He may also stabilize once healthy. There is no certainty either way.
What is clear is that his situation remains unresolved. Trade discussions are expected to intensify once Morant returns to action, which could come Sunday when Memphis faces the Orlando Magic in Berlin. He has not played since suffering a right calf injury on Jan. 2.
“There’s a good chance he plays. He went through the full practice today and now we’ve just got to see how his body responds in the morning,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said Saturday, via The Associated Press. “There’s obviously no guarantees, and he’s got to feel comfortable with how the calf feels.”
Iisalo has emphasized alignment with Morant, but speculation has persisted. The Timberwolves, Kings, Heat, Bucks, Raptors, Nets, and Mavericks have all been mentioned as potential suitors, though no discussions are believed to be serious.
Morant has two years remaining after this season on his five-year, $197.2 million contract. His value has dipped, and his future remains uncertain.
For the Clippers, the rebuttal remains straightforward: they do not control their own draft until 2030. That reality limits both rebuilding and incremental retooling. If any team is positioned to justify a bold, uncomfortable move, it is this one.
What, exactly, do they have to lose?
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