NBA teams now have less than a week to finalize roster decisions before the Feb. 5, 3 p.m. ET cutoff. As activity accelerates, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant’s name continues to surface in trade conversations. One Eastern Conference contender is now being closely watched as the situation develops.
NBA Insider Reveals Miami Heat’s Interest in Ja Morant
NBA insider Chris Haynes identified the Miami Heat as a team to monitor in the growing Morant trade landscape. Speaking amid broader league-wide discussions, Haynes linked Miami’s interest in Morant to its pursuit of other star-level players.
“I would just mention one, the Miami Heat,” Haynes said. “We’re hearing the Miami Heat as it pertains to Giannis as well. How the Miami Heat fair meaning do they get Giannis or not, I think that would dictate what happens with Ja Morant as well.”
Haynes’ comments suggest that Miami’s next move may depend on how its other major pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo play out, placing Morant squarely within a larger decision tree rather than as a standalone target.
Morant’s name, meanwhile, has circulated in trade rumors for months, and the Grizzlies are now clearly open to listening. The Grizzlies can move Morant before the Feb. 5 deadline and have been actively entertaining offers, even though no deal has materialized yet.
That openness became more evident this week when the Grizzlies made a significant roster move. On Tuesday afternoon, Memphis traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player deal that also included John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr.
The trade created a $28.8 million trade exception, the largest in NBA history, and left Memphis with 13 first-round picks over the next seven seasons, tied with the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder. For a team sitting at 19–29, the move signaled more than a tweak — it pointed toward a broader reset.
Marc Stein has previously reported that Memphis is seeking a first-round pick and a younger player in any Morant deal. That asking price reflects both Morant’s upside and the growing concerns around his availability, efficiency, and contract, which pays more than $39 million annually through 2028.
Morant has played just 20 games this season and only 59 games over the past two years combined. He is currently sidelined with calf and elbow injuries and is not expected to return until late February. On the court, he is averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 41.0 percent from the field.
The Grizzlies are 12-16 without Morant this season, and before being traded, Jackson had assumed a larger role, starting 45 games and averaging 19.2 points per night. The Grizzlies’ recent moves suggest they are increasingly willing to pivot away from Morant as the centerpiece of the roster.
Despite the questions, Morant remains valued around the league as an elite playmaker and explosive downhill scorer. His ability to pressure defenses and create opportunities for teammates still holds appeal, particularly for teams built around spacing and movement.
Shams Charania has previously reported that league-wide interest in Morant remains strong.
“The Grizzlies’ conversations around Ja Morant and entertaining offers is continuing around the league,” Charania said. “There’s multiple teams with interest in Ja Morant.”
As the deadline nears, Memphis appears ready to make a defining decision. Whether the Hear ultimately enters the mix may depend on how its broader plans unfold, but Morant’s name is firmly back in the center of deadline discussions.
