Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was in Phoenix on Friday to watch the do-or-die play-in tournament game between the Suns and the Warriors. A fan shared on X a video of the former All-Star sitting in a suite to catch the action.
One fan reacted to Morant intently following the game:
“Checking his options.”
Another fan added:
“Yeah, it’s confirmed. He’s a Sun soon!”
One more fan continued:
“Ja and JG4 duo.”
Another fan commented:
“Wonder who we could trade for him.”
One fan tweeted:
“He’s looking for which team to join.”
NBA insider Tim MacMahon reported on Wednesday that the Grizzlies “had been aggressively looking for suitors for Ja Morant” before the February trade deadline. Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman told reporters early that month that potentially moving Morant “was not about Ja in particular.” Kleiman insisted that what he was doing was “about organizational direction.”
The direction the Grizzlies could shift to might not have Morant in the lineup next season. Injuries and off-court issues have hounded him over the past three years, making teams hesitant to trade for him. Morant ended his 2025-26 campaign shooting 41%, including 23.5% from deep, the worst in his career.
Ja Morant, one of the NBA’s most fearsome rim attackers, has also been less aggressive over the years. During the 2022-23 season, when he made the All-Star team, 28.9% of his shots came from within three feet. Last season, that number dropped to 22.7%.
Still, some teams could be interested in him despite his roughly $87 million salary over the next two years. Once the Grizzlies start looking for trade partners for Morant, it remains to be seen if the Suns and the Warriors will call.
Ja Morant Is Last Remaining Piece of Grizzlies’ Former Core
Memphis signaled a rebuild in June 2025 when it traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2026, 2028 and 2030).
Eight months later, the Grizzlies sent Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Vince Williams and Jock Landale to the Utah Jazz. In return, the Grizzlies received Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round picks.
The Grizzlies wanted to include Ja Morant to complete the overhaul, but there were no takers. According to Tim MacMahon on Wednesday, Zach Kleiman’s “best efforts” to trade Morant resulted in nothing more than initial discussions.
Morant is the only one left from the Grizzlies’ core that seemed poised to make noise in the Western Conference playoffs. The point guard said in January that he’s a “very loyal guy,” who wants to remain in Memphis. However, Kleiman seems to have other plans, making it likely Morant will follow Bane and Jackson out.
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