{"id":590963,"date":"2026-02-08T18:09:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T18:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/590963\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T18:09:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T18:09:07","slug":"ja-morant-has-negative-value-in-damning-nba-trade-deadline-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/590963\/","title":{"rendered":"Ja Morant has ‘negative value’ in damning NBA trade deadline reality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ja Morant is currently \u201cuntradable.\u201d <\/p>\n

That\u2019s per ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, who was asked Friday morning on \u201cGet Up\u201d<\/a> about the Grizzlies guard, who wasn\u2019t traded before the NBA\u2019s 3 p.m. deadline Thursday.<\/p>\n

Morant had been a topic of trade talks for weeks leading up to the deadline, with Memphis reportedly asking for<\/a> a first-round pick and a younger player in return.<\/p>\n

Brian Windhorst on Ja Morant not getting traded:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I say he has no value, I don\u2019t even think that\u2019s accurate. I think he has what they call in the league, negative value. Meaning teams weren\u2019t willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also added draft compensation\u201d\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QMiGd7mSqP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Windhorst was blunt. He said between his suspensions, injuries and issues with coaches, Morant\u2019s value has tanked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I say he has no value, I don\u2019t even think that\u2019s accurate. I think he has what they call in the league, \u2018negative value,\u2019\u201d Windhorst said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeaning teams weren\u2019t willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also added draft compensation.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season, Morant has played just 20 of the Grizzlies\u2019 49 games, missing matchups due to a left elbow strain that has held him out since January 21.<\/p>\n

He also played just nine games in the 2023-24 season due to a 25-game league suspension<\/a> and shoulder surgery.<\/p>\n

On the court, Windhorst acknowledged that Morant has been playing better as of late. But throughout most of the season, he hasn\u2019t been playing to his strength \u2014 attacking the paint.<\/p>\n

As a result, he\u2019s averaging his lowest points per game (19.5) since his sophomore season in the 2020-21 campaign. He\u2019s also shooting a career-low 41.0% overall and 23.5% from 3.<\/p>\n

\"MemphisJa Morant has missed 29 games this season due to injury and a one-game suspension. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is at his best when he gets into that paint. He\u2019s never done it less. He\u2019s taken more jump shots, and he\u2019s never been worse at those jump shots,\u201d Windhorst said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another factor contributing to Morant\u2019s \u201cnegative value,\u201d according to Windhorst, is his contract. He\u2019s in the third year of a five-year, $197 million contract that extends through the 2027-28 season.<\/p>\n

Windhorst added he still has two years and $87 million left on the deal, something no team wants to take on right now, especially with his off the court issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he had one year on his contract, I think there would be some teams that would say, \u2018We\u2019re gonna do a buy low here,\u2019\u201d Windhorst said. \u201cThe two years on his contract has literally made his situation toxic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JaJa Morant is failing to average over 20 points per game for only the third time in his career. AP<\/p>\n

As a result of Morant\u2019s struggles and missed games this season, the Grizzlies sit at 20-29, two games behind the Portland Trailblazers for the Western Conference\u2019s final playoff spot entering Friday\u2019s slate.<\/p>\n

Windhorst mentioned Morant\u2019s path to success is to play \u201cexcellent\u201d once he returns from injury in the next few weeks. Only then will he potentially gain some trade value, giving the Grizzlies the chance to shop him around.<\/p>\n

Currently, though, he\u2019s done so much wrong that he\u2019s stuck in Memphis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this is a stunning thing for the Ja Morant fans out there. It\u2019s a stunning thing when I talk to his fellow NBA players about it because they know how talented he is,\u201d Windhorst said.<\/p>\n

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