Ja Morant Shipped Off to Canada in This Bold NBA Trade Idea

The Memphis Grizzlies might be ready to take things in a new direction. It seems like patience between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies coaching staff has run out, and a big Grizzlies trade could be the solution. Morant has been up and down during his career in Memphis, but at this point, the Grizzlies need to ask if the negatives outweigh the positives.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report laid out a possible Morant trade that could help the Grizzlies pivot towards a Ja-less future. 

“Trade idea: Ja Morant to the Toronto Raptors for Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, a 2026 second-round pick (via LAL) and a 2028 first-round pick (top-three protected)...

Between Morant's ongoing issues with availability, and his sagging stat line—career lows in field-goal and three-point percentages; career-high in turnovers—most would-be suitors might simply stay away. A select few, though, might sense there is bargain potential here for one of the league's most obvious scenery-change candidates.

The Raptors have exceeded expectations so far, but they might still be one star short of cracking the contender ranks. While Morant hasn't worn that label in a while, he's still just 26 years old and coming off a four-season stretch in which he averaged 25.7 points on 47.2 percent shooting and 7.4 assists. If the Raptors could help bring out his best—their coach, Darko Rajaković, was an assistant in Memphis during Morant's best seasons—they could add a legitimate difference-maker for relatively cheap.”

While this trade makes a bit of sense for both sides, the Grizzlies shouldn’t do it. If the Grizzlies are going to trade away their franchise superstar, Quickley and a first-round pick don’t seem like a good enough return.

Quickley’s contract isn’t all that friendly, and Dick hasn’t shown a ton of promise this season. If the Grizzlies are going to trade Ja Morant they need to be getting either more draft capital or a more promising young player in return.