Grizzlies Exec Takes Emphatic Stance on Ja Morant Trade Possibilility

Is Ja Morant really a trade candidate this summer? A recent report from The Ringer's Howard Beck indicated as much, calling Morant a star player to “keep an eye on”.

An NBA executive pegs Ja Morant as a star to “keep an eye on” as a potential trade candidate this summer if the Grizzlies flame out early, per @HowardBeck on @ringer.

“I'm constantly checking in with executives around trade deadline about like, okay, what we saw, what we didn't… pic.twitter.com/QL3LXpgMSa
— APHoops (@APH00PS) February 18, 2025

On Wednesday, Memphis Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman reacted to the rumor with a no-holds-barred response, via Daily Memphian's Drew Hill:

I can't blame other 'executives' for fantasizing about us trading Ja. But it's just that -- fantasy. We are not trading Ja. Continue to underestimate Ja, this team and this city, and we will let our performance on the floor speak for itself. I'm not going to give this nonsense further oxygen.

Kleiman is as connected to Morant as anyone, as his first move upon taking over the GM job in Memphis in 2019 was to select Ja with the 2nd overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Morant has certainly had his share of troubles in his young NBA career, being suspended twice for gun-related incidents, and missing almost the entire 2023-24 season for part-suspension, part season-ending injury.

This year, in 32 games, Morant is averaging 20.7 points, his lowest mark in four years, plus 7.4 assists while playing 28.8 minutes per game (a career-low mark).

And after the shocking, earth-shaking, completely unexpected trade of superstar Luka Doncic by the Dallas Mavericks a few weeks back, plus a trade of Jimmy Butler, and incessant rumors of another Kevin Durant trade, it's reasonable for fans around the league (and executives, for that matter) to be wondering if any superstar is above being able to be moved.

Kleiman, however, is having none of it.

The Grizzlies are having a tremendous season, currently holding down second spot in the Western Conference (though with the hard-charging Denver Nuggets just a half-game behind them going into Wednesday night's games).