Ja Morant's best landing spot isn't what you expect

Ja Morant’s best landing spot isn’t what you expect originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Ja Morant played only 20 games in the 2025–26 season. Over the last three seasons combined, he has appeared in just 79 total games and has never cracked 67 appearances in a single season since his rookie year. This availability issue, along with off-court friction, is driving the biggest trade story of the 2026 offseason for the Memphis Grizzlies.

In November, first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo challenged Morant’s leadership and effort during a locker room exchange following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Morant’s response was “inappropriate and dismissive,” and he was slapped with a one-game suspension.

His play didn’t help his case either. In the 20 games he played, Morant averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists while shooting career-worst marks of 41% from the field and 23.5% from three.

Plus, he is still owed roughly $42 million next season and $48 million the year after. Because of his injuries, suspensions, declining production, and massive contract, league executives now view his trade value as negative. Memphis might actually have to give up draft picks just to get rid of him.

Given those red flags, the Minnesota Timberwolves do not seem anywhere close to an obvious destination. Yet, that is exactly where Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes pointed in his trade rankings and the underlying logic makes a lot of sense. His proposed idea sends Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Memphis, putting Morant next to Anthony Edwards in Minnesota.

NBA analyst Jake Weinbach backed this path on his X handle, noting that a deal would likely feature Randle, DiVincenzo and minor draft picks. He added that a third team might be needed if the Grizzlies do not want to take on the remaining two years of Randle’s contract.

Hughes noted that Morant’s playmaking and ability to attack the rim could ease the offensive burden on Edwards, especially against playoff defenses, because DiVincenzo tore his Achilles in the postseason and 38-year-old Mike Conley is not a long-term solution.

However, there is no denying that this trade would be a big gamble for the Wolves because after getting eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round, they are in no mood to experiment. 

Having missed the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three years, taking on Morant’s baggage is a major risk for a team that should be playing it safe, especially since they would lose valuable rotation players to get him.

Still, for a franchise looking to close the gap on the West’s elite, Morant paired with Edwards may be the most asymmetric bet available this summer.

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