MIAMI — Amid the ongoing speculation about whether the Miami Heat will have the opportunity to move for Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline came a thunderbolt that could have another known quantity in play for the Heat.

With the Memphis Grizzlies agreeing to trade star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz and making clear a rebuild will be their path forward, the next domino expected to fall for the Grizzlies is Ja Morant.

The former All-Star point guard has made it clear he would be amenable to a relocation to the Heat, and he had had been linked to considerable Heat speculation before the NBA went on hold while the Milwaukee Bucks decide what to do with Antetokounmpo.

An NBA source told the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday that he believes the Heat could be active on both the Antetokounmpo and Morant fronts ahead of the trade deadline, with decisions on the two not being mutually exclusive.

While the Grizzlies both shed salary and add three first-round picks from the Jazz in their Jackson agreement with Utah, a Morant offer by the Grizzlies to the Heat likely will be more about shedding salary, with the Heat’s limited draft capital expected to be offered either for Antetokounmpo or stockpiled. The Heat currently only have first-round picks in 2030 and ’32 to put into play.

A Heat move for Morant would involve considerable future risk against the salary cap, luxury tax and tax aprons, with Morant earning $34.9 million this season, $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million in 2027-28, all guaranteed. Morant also has a 15% trade kicker in his contract.

Those future numbers, while significant, still could wind up as less than the Heat might wind up having to pay sidelined guard Tyler Herro, if he is retained and extended with a new contract. Herro’s extension window opens in July.

If the Grizzlies simply are looking to move off Morant’s contract, the Heat could close an immediate deal with as little as Terry Rozier’s $26.6 million expiring salary and Simone Fontecchio’s $8.3 million expiring salary.

Because those salaries also could prove useful in a potential Heat trade to Antetokounmpo, it is likely the Heat first wait to see if there is potential resolution with the disgruntled Bucks All-Star forward.

As for Morant, ongoing injury issues and declining play, both would factor in the degree of interest and outgoing capital from the Heat or other potential suitors. In addition, the Heat last summer locked in point guard Davion Mitchell on a two-year, $24 million contract that runs through next season.

In addition, the Heat also have veteran Dru Smith and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis on their roster at point guard.

The Heat have a lengthy trade history with the Grizzlies, including a deal at the 2020 deadline that delivered Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill to help fuel the drive to that season’s NBA Finals. The Heat also made the massive 2005 offseason deal with Memphis that delivered Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey, a deal that sparked the team’s run to the 2006 NBA title, a championship currently being commemorated by the Heat on its 20th anniversary.

In a touch of irony, among the players being acquired by the Grizzlies from the Jazz in the Jackson trade is Kyle Anderson, the forward the Heat acquired at last February’s trade-deadline deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. Anderson then was dealt by the Heat to the Jazz in July in the three-team deal that delivered guard Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Heat Gala

Heat owner Micky Arison and wife Madeleine Arison, along with Heat President Pat Riley and wife Chris Riley hosted the “Miami Heat Gala” fundraiser at Kaseya Center on Monday night, benefitting the Miami Heat Charitable Fund.

The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Heat’s 2006 championship, with players from that team in attendance at that event and Tuesday night’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Since its inception in 2006, the Gala has raised more than $26 million, with beneficiaries including the Jackson Memorial Foundation Angels benefiting Holtz Children’s Hospital; SafeSpace; Dedication to Community; Home Strong; the American Cancer Society, and others.