According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Memphis Grizzlies have declined trade inquiries on Ja Morant.
Scotto is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings have called the Grizzlies about trading for Morant.
Morant has appeared in 12 games this season. He’s averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game while shooting 35.9% from the field, 16.7% from beyond the arc and 94.2% from the free-throw line.
The two-time All-Star will miss the next two weeks with a right calf strain.
A Murray State product, Morant “hates” playing for Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo, sources told DallasHoopsJournal. Ja is not a fan of Iisalo’s strategy of playing lineups in short shifts and then mass substituting, sources said. It has prevented Morant from getting his legs underneath him and developing a rhythm on the court.
Morant doesn’t have a good relationship with Iisalo, sources said. The Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins last season and named Iisalo the head coach.
Morant will make $39.4 million this season, $42.2 million in the 2026-27 season and $44.9 million in the 2027-28 season, which is the final year of his contract.
The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, Morant has only led the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs once.
Morant, 26, has career averages of 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the NBA. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 draft.
One of the most athletic players in the NBA, Morant and his camp, at this juncture, haven’t thought about requesting a trade, sources said. The point guard said a couple of weeks ago that he’s not playing with any “joy.”
Morant doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. He recently made headlines for talking trash to Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson despite being on the bench in street clothes.