NBA Trade Rumors: Ja Morant Emerges as Potential Candidate to Land on Title Contender Sooner Than LaMelo Ball & Trae Young

NBA Trade Rumors: Ja Morant Emerges as Potential Candidate to Land on Title Contender Sooner Than LaMelo Ball & Trae Young (Image sources: Getty and Imagn)
NBA Trade Rumors: Ja Morant Emerges as Potential Candidate to Land on Title Contender Sooner Than LaMelo Ball & Trae Young (Image sources: Getty and Imagn)

Several NBA stars have been part of trade rumors this season, including Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young. While former NBA players Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons believe that all three will be moved, they said that Morant will be the first to be dealt.

Ad

On Monday's episode of "Run It Back," host Michelle Beadle asked who among Morant, Ball and Young would be traded first. Williams said it is "realistic" to assume that Morant will be the first to be moved at the trade deadline.

"That's tough," Williams said. "You look at all of these guys' individual situations, there's a case for all three of them. ... But if I'm to pick one right now, I would say Ja Morant just because of everything that's surrounded Memphis. Him being out of the lineup, it just feels like this is the window for them to probably reset the deck."
Ad

Parsons agreed with Williams, saying:

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

"I think it's Ja Morant and I think it should be. With budding heads with the coach and all the other off the court stuff that he's had, I think he can just go somewhere else and get back to being that fun, box-office type player that we all loved to watch. So, I don't that's gonna happen in Memphis, that ship has sailed."
Ad
Ad

Former four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins added that it "makes sense" that the three star point guards would land with a contender. Per Cousins, Morant, Ball and Young could help a perennial playoff team "to get over the hump."

Morant had a much-publicized rift with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo that dominated the headlines over the past month. Ball and Young have also faced speculation about a possible move as their teams continue struggling this season.

Ad

NBA insider says Ja Morant is 'working through' the Grizzlies

NBA insider Sam Amick reported the latest on Ja Morant's future with the Memphis Grizzlies. On Monday's episode of "The Athletic NBA Daily" podcast, Amick said he will be surprised if Morant is moved, considering what could be a reconciliation with the team.

"It seemed like he was more engaged with his teammates and the coaching staff that I had anticipated," Amick said. "The messaging out of Memphis from the top on down is that they’re trying to work through it as opposed to cutting the cord and moving on from the Ja Morant era."
Ad
Ad

Amick also noted that rival teams are wary about Morant's off-court issues when considering for a trade for the two-time NBA All-Star.

Morant returned to the lineup on Friday after missing 10 games due to a right calf strain. The Memphis star recorded a double-double performance in the 130-126 loss to the Utah Jazz, finishing with 21 points and 10 assists on 7-for-20 shooting.

Memphis went 7-3 in Morant's 10-game absence. Coming into Monday's game against the LA Clippers, the Grizzlies are No. 9 in the Western Conference with an 11-14 record.

Grizzlies Nation! You can check out the latest Memphis Grizzlies Schedule and dive into the Grizzlies Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

Quick Links

Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications