Morant and Memphis at a crossroads: a trade looms

As ESPN relays, Morant still hasn't gotten over the suspension he received during the season for conduct detrimental to the team. Per the report, the star feels he was alienated by teammates during the disciplinary process and left feeling shut out; players had been told to leave him alone so he could work through his issues. In the aftermath, Morant told some players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn't playing for Memphis anymore.

Morant's future in Memphis had been uncertain for some time. The Grizzlies looked for a way out for the player at February's trade deadline, but nothing materialized that general manager Zach Kleiman liked; the offers were described as "modest." In that period, Memphis sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz for a package headlined by three future first-round picks. Having traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic the previous summer, the Grizzlies thus entered an open rebuild, and the view that Morant no longer fits the picture gained weight.

With career averages of 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game, Morant had taken the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs just once, back in 2022 with a roster featuring Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. The team's pivot toward younger players and a rebuild strengthened the assessment that the 26-year-old no longer fits Memphis' timeline.

Another notable detail in the Morant trade scenario is the cost of his contract. The star will make $42.1 million next season and $44 million in 2027-28. That high salary is a deterrent for some teams. Because Morant has no no-trade clause, he cannot control his own future, which means Memphis holds the initiative. Although the player has at times said he wanted to stay in Memphis, ESPN's latest report suggests the relationship has eroded beyond repair.

The timing of the trade is also key. Ahead of the NBA Draft starting on June 23, moving Morant before teams fill their point-guard needs in the first round could make more sense for Memphis in value terms. For now, exactly when and to which team the trade will happen is unclear; but all signs point to Morant starting next season in a new uniform. Both the player and the club appear ready to turn this page.

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