Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, under contract through 2027-28, is in the third year of a five-year deal worth $197,230,450.
As a result, the Grizzlies may not be in a rush to trade the two-time All-Star. Yet, having failed to advance past the first round of the NBA playoffs for the past three seasons, Memphis may have already peaked with Morant playing the role of the team’s centerpiece. On top of that, many have grown frustrated with the 26-year-old’s behavior, including his team.
3 Teams to Watch if the Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant
With questions about Morant’s future in Memphis dominating NBA discourse, now is the time to assess his best potential trade destinations.
Minnesota Timberwolves
From a locker room perspective, the Minnesota Timberwolves could be an ideal landing spot for Morant.
On the court, the fit could be even better. Morant and Anthony Edwards would form one of the most electrifying and athletic backcourts in the NBA. Both players can be counted on in clutch moments, a luxury the Timberwolves would welcome, especially in the playoffs.
Minnesota may be reluctant to part ways with Julius Randle, who would need to be included because of Morant’s offensive potency. Although it took time for Randle to gel with the core, he has quietly become instrumental to their success and has improved as a three-point shooter. That said, Randle’s age (30) and overall body of work suggest his recent performance may not be sustainable.
As Morant will make $8.6 million more than Randle in 2025-26, Minnesota would need to include another player. The natural choice would be Mike Conley, who earns $10.7 million this season and spent his prime years in a Grizzlies uniform. Though past his peak, Conley remains a reliable shooter and savvy floor general. As a locker room leader with an affable personality, his arrival would also help drive team culture.
To match salaries fully, Memphis could also send depth center Jock Landale and projected forward GG Jackson. Jackson’s scoring upside makes him an attractive inclusion. In return, Memphis would receive Leonard Miller, who was named an NBA G League All-Star in 2023.
Trade: Morant, Jackson II, Landale to MIN for Randle, Conley, Miller + picks
Los Angeles Clippers
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue may not coddle Morant, but as a former NBA point guard and player’s coach, he could connect with the bristling star in ways previous coaches have not.
An All-Star point guard joining a team that already has James Harden, Chris Paul, and Kris Dunn could create chaos. However, Harden and Dunn have experience sharing the backcourt with other lead ball-handlers. Harden’s time alongside Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City shows he can complement Morant, and with Harden in the final season of his current deal in 2026-27, the Clippers could plan ahead with a successor.
From the Grizzlies’ perspective, trading Morant for a high-volume scorer makes sense. Their top options would be Harden or Kawhi Leonard. Swapping Morant for Harden would be a lateral move on the court, and given the drama surrounding Leonard’s L.A. tenure, Memphis may prefer to acquire Leonard instead.
Leonard is not a perfect fit: he is older and less durable than Morant. But he remains an elite scorer and could contribute at a high level for at least a couple more seasons. He relies on technique rather than pure athleticism, and with the Clippers’ supporting cast, the offensive drop-off would be minimal.
To match salaries, Memphis could include wing Vince Williams Jr., a skilled but inconsistent and injury-prone two-way player.
Trade: Morant, Williams Jr. to LAC for Leonard + picks
Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs last season, but Sacramento could soon have another speedster leading its backcourt. Morant’s skillset is reminiscent of Fox’s more than any other player in the league.
In a potential move, the Grizzlies could trade for Zach LaVine, the Kings’ primary scorer. His $47.5 million salary for the 2025-26 is huge, but Memphis has expendable pieces to make the trade work.
Alternatively, trading for DeMar DeRozan may make more sense. His defense and three-point shooting are inconsistent, but he can still score 20+ points per game. Because he is owed $24.6 million in 2025-26, Sacramento would need to include at least one other player in a trade. One option is Dennis Schroder, a veteran starting-caliber guard earning $14.1 million this season.
The Grizzlies could also re-route DeRozan to another team, such as the Phoenix Suns. In that scenario, Schroder and DeRozan would land in Memphis, with DeRozan and Ty Jerome’s combined salaries used in a subsequent trade for Suns guard Jalen Green and a conditional first-round pick. DeRozan’s experience and efficiency make him a more refined scorer than Green, who was an integral part of Houston’s 52-win 2024-25 season.
Trade Option 1: Morant to SAC for DeRozan, Schroder
Trade Option 2: Morant to SAC, then Jerome to PHX for Green, Schroder, conditional first-round pick