Ja Morant, once the unquestioned face of the Memphis Grizzlies, has his future with the team being seriously put under question. Half a decade has seen Morant being the franchise centerpiece while periods of his frequent absence start to get on the team’s nerves.
Grizzlies’ player Ja Morant Contract and salary explored
According to HoopsHype, $39.4 million due next season and over $126 million guaranteed through 2027–28. On the very contract, there is an added 15 percent trade kicker that would make Morant’s trading more difficult-but all complications have not stopped it from being speculated about.
Ja Morant has agreed on a five-year, $193M designated rookie maximum extension that could become worth $231M, his agent tells @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/Q7FvV9HMPh
— ESPN (@espn) July 1, 2022
The Grizzlies got swept out in the first round from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and shortly after that, head coach Taylor Jenkins was fired. Attention is now diving onto Morant himself. Although Zach Kleiman, who is GM, said back in February that trade rumors were “fantasy,” things on the inside don’t say the same. There is some talking that Morant might be made available.
Ja Morant’s trade rumors circling
The noises are made for a reason. Injuries have kept Ja Morant in less than 60 games throughout the entire duration of his career. Morant played in 50 only this year due to recurring hip ailments. Once thrilling is his danger move style now raising questions about long-term durability.
Some baggage can be accounted for as well. Two suspensions lasting pretty long in 2023 left an enormous shadow hanging upon him. Some say around the league now that maybe Morant’s not even the top-25 player when healthy.
That perception puts a bit on Morant’s market value. Always if not for the length of his contract, he would never be attractive to teams searching for a long-term piece of the star-variety, however faded it appears at this moment.
Memphis wants to declare that “No, Morant is staying here.” The reality, however, tends to be far from that simple. Injuries, off-the-court shenanigans, something not working in style-Well, that puts the franchise in no nice situation to be in.
B/R’s trade idea that sends Ja Morant to Miami:
— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) May 5, 2025
Miami receives: Ja Morant and Jay Huff
Memphis receives: Duncan Robinson, Kyle Anderson, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez, 25’ FRP, 29’ FRP and 31’ FRP
Lethal starting lineup, young team that would be contenders for a long time. pic.twitter.com/vevRu2XcX1
While the Grizzlies try to set things right after a destructive season, what they do with that big Ja Morant problem could well carve the next big chapter of basketball in Memphis.
There they are on stage in the eye of the storm: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in an extremely pivotal offseason after the first-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The failure showed just how distant they are from championship contention and brought forth questions about their current roster.
Morant and Jackson Jr. form the heart of these questions.
Trade rumors have thrived with an injured Morant traveling with off-court suspensions, along with the ongoing frustrations that he has expressed regarding his offensive system. While his contract runs through 2027-28, there are whispers about whether he has value on the market among league families.
Jackson Jr. is extension-eligible this summer. A super-max becomes available if he gets an All-NBA nod, but without that designation, the terms of the extension get drastically reduced. The risk lies in having to watch a cornerstone walk away as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Recent editorial graphic on if the Grizzlies should move on from Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. 🌌🎨 pic.twitter.com/SF0ZTmbM0v
— Hassan Ahmad (@designsbyhassan) April 30, 2025
Let’s end with Memphis staring at the biggest decision in franchise history, with any choice in regard to Morant and Jackson etching the team’s soul for years to come.
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I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
