The NBA trade deadline has passed, and the Memphis Grizzlies failed to trade Ja Morant. Since the beginning of the season, Morant and the Grizzlies had issues with one another.
It got to the point where Ja was upset with the coaching staff, and the team’s front office was fed up with the star guard’s antics.
Ja Morant Remains in Memphis
The bad blood resulted in the Grizzlies making Morant available for trade. While the idea of a two-time All-Star being up for grabs should be appealing, there were surprisingly no takers who eagerly wanted to have Ja on their team.
Apparently, an NBA insider revealed that Memphis reached out to the Miami Heat for a potential trade for Morant, which they ultimately rejected.
Earlier this season, there were rumors that Morant would be playing for another team. While the Grizzlies opened their doors to a plethora of teams that were interested in the star guard, Morant himself openly expressed his desire to play for the Heat.
As time went by, there were no takers for the high-flying guard, likely due to Morant’s increasingly negative track record. Ja is notorious for his missteps on and off the court, which seemed to dissuade teams from making an offer.
NBA insider Greg Sylvander revealed that the Grizzlies reached out to the Heat in hopes of fulfilling Morant’s wishes to represent South Beach.
According to Sylvander, Memphis asked Miami to trade either Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Kel’el Ware, Terry Rozier, and a first-round pick in exchange for Morant. While the offer could’ve formed a Big 4 of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Morant, the Heat boldly declined.
“The Grizzlies reportedly asked the Heat for Jaime Jaquez Jr./Kel’el Ware, Terry Rozier, and a 1st-round pick for Ja Morant,” Sylvander reported. “Miami had zero interest.”
REPORT: The Grizzlies reportedly asked the Heat for Jaime Jaquez Jr./Kel’el Ware, Terry Rozier, and a 1st-round pick for Ja Morant. Miami had zero interest. (@GregSylvander)
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 5, 2026
With Morant still with the Grizzlies, they now have to figure out how to get into the Play-In Tournament picture without him while he remains sidelined with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament.
Heading into Feb. 5 action, Memphis was in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 20-29 record, two games behind the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers (23-28).
However, with Morant potentially making his return sometime shortly after the All-Star break, the Grizzlies might still have a path to playing after the final game of the regular season.
