We are less than two months away from the 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline. And one player who’s received plenty of buzz — for better or worse (mostly the latter) — is Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. The former No. 2 overall pick “lost his joy” — sound familiar?! — and has been subject to plenty of trade speculation despite missing the team’s last 10 games with a calf strain.
That noise didn’t quiet down Sunday.
NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that the Miami Heat have had “internal discussions” regarding the disgruntled Grizzlies guard.
“Miami was already shaping into a surprising buyer on this trade market even before this week’s Giannis headlines,” Fischer’s report read. “League sources say that the Heat, for example, have had internal discussions about Memphis’ Ja Morant and how Miami’s infrastructure could benefit him.
“I find that interesting in itself even if such musings go no further. The Heat were not expecting to be as good as they’ve been this season, according to sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking, and a 14-10 start in a wide-open East appears to have them considering bolder win-now measures.”
Heat having “internal discussions” doesn’t mean aligned interest:
None of this is to say the Heat have interest in the two-time All-Star, who’s having the worst season of his career. We don’t know whether they do or don’t, but what we do know is that Miami 1.) Always do due diligence on stars and 2.) have a collection of decision-makers, even though Pat Riley’s the face. They may be having “internal discussions” surrounding Morant, but that doesn’t mean there’s direct interest.
His trade market is tricky. Morant, 26, is averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists on 35.9 percent shooting — including a ghastly 16.7 percent from 3-point range. His pedigree as a hyper-athletic, dynamic guard offensively is quite tantalizing. But his injury history, contract and controversy off the court could limit the number of suitors he attracts.
Last month, I wrote about why Morant wouldn’t be a current fit with the Miami Heat. The new offense they’ve thrived with was one implemented in Memphis last year — and it didn’t work, leading to Taylor Jenkins’ firing for a coach whose offense was suitable with Morant. If it didn’t work then, why would it work now?
Not to mention, the Heat’s roster construction is significantly imbalanced, and they don’t have the room to smush a $39.4 million salary into their books for someone who’s played just 37.8 percent of his available games the last three years.
Would you take a flyer on Ja Morant if you’re the Heat? Let us know in the comments!
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I sincerely hope the Heat do not consider trading Mitchell or Powell. Both play hard, both have been playing great ball, and both have expressed a desire to be here.
f wagner who killed us last game out high ankle sprain .these injuries in all sports are ruining the product.less games more rest in between adam
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons discussed a pair of potential Heat packages for Giannis during The Bill Simmons Podcast.
The main difference between the two packages? One included Bam Adebayo; one did not.
Hornets Could Prevent Heat From Trading For Giannis AntetokounmpoThe
Heat are trying to get the NBA to give them their pick back, but that looks unlikely. That means that they are behind the eight-ball when it comes to a trade package they can offer to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo. Other teams have better trade assets.
u get greek your getting top 3 player id take the two ics over the greek maybe sga.to get a player like greek bam herro wiggins might get it done,i think jjj is better than wiggy.powell better than herro.ware has potential to be as good or better than bam.still have dav at point.but bench would really suk ars.i guess lebron type free agency is gone?
think he wants to go to msg kat aunnonby or bam herro which one is better package
Which one has better coach, weather and lower state taxes?
coaching in baskets doesnt matter
better weather depends who u ask
lower st taxes mia
COACHING IN ANY SPORT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT GROUP OF PLAYERS. Doesn’t matter if you’re Jackson, Riley, Kerr, Shula, Lombardi, Torre, La Russa, Bowman, Maurice, Bowden, Bryant, etc etc etc. You keep spouting the same shit so you can diminish anything Spo has accomplished. Why? Because YOU don’t like him. Yet, time and again, when he does something you don’t like, you say it was bad coaching.
“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
~ Scott Hamilton ~
if u know anything about sports coaching really matters alot,in football.in baseball really when to pull starting pitcher.in basketball which players to play and at what times certainly playing jovic anytime is just dumbot..shula took bunch no names made them perfect team.hockey think matters little bit .i dont know the game like the other 3.but when barkov and tkachuk went down panthers are barely 500.maurice has his system not sure what it is 30 man little more into hockey than me.im a johnny come lately on the panthers bandwagon
If, after all this time, you can suggest I may not know anything about sports, you have some bizarre thought process going on. If your best hitter is Bob Uecker, it wouldn’t matter if you were sent down by a Roman god to manage the team. Of course there are different strategies in every sport, INCLUDING basketball. And Griese, Csonka, and the great Dolphins D were nobodies just because they had that name? The players were right, the chemistry great, and the stars aligned.
football coaching matters the most?griese csonka not nobodies d was rc.hfl sports junkie its my life rc.
the definition of how coaching mattered was the 72 dolphins.the definition ofhow coaching didnt matter was the big 3.if u dont think thats the case dont know what to say.again spobot gonna be first ballot hof coach good for him
Today’s weather:
Miami: 76°71°
NYC: 33°18°
You make the call.
change of season some people like that .summers down here try playing tennis
What’s the weather in Greece where he grew up?
i was in athens rc few years ago visited the parthenon weather sames as here.id love to get the greek here chances of him coming maybe 25%.
I would trade for him, as a fallback after Giannis, as Morant is an obvious change of scenery candidate. His athleticism is off the charts, a highlight reel every night. Those two players are the ones to get and almost, emphasis on almost, any trade for them is worth it and their salary is worth it too. But, I would try to keep Powell, Bam, Ware, and Davion. One or two number one picks would have to go out too, depending on how many players got traded.
We did do better than expected so far. It does change the thinking and make going all in a more viable idea. Some of the wins were manufactured by Spo’s run and gun offense. Now teams are catching up to us , figuring out how to combat that style and some of those wins will be harder to achieve.
The 44-38ish record we expected at the beginning of the year now seems to be about correct without any changes. We are closer to being able to compete than some thought, close enough to warrant going all in, close enough to be just one player away, with the right trade that doesn’t weaken us too much as it helps us.
The two players we’ve had internal discussions about are the best two to get, although there are others that would help too, but not as much. But, players like these two are hard to get and twenty teams will be vying for them. I’m just glad the Heat are even contemplating this course of action.
I agree one or more trades are needed. Morant, does not fit Heat culture. He’s a wannabe gang banger. He’s physically fragile and misses a bunch of games. A very important ability is availability. He gets an F in that department. This is not the time for desperation. Miami can do much better.
Maybe so. There is the change of scenery element, which is hard to project. He wasn’t as unreliable his first couple years.
Gambling on him having a miraculous turn around by a change of scenery considering he is in the middle of a contract that runs through 2027-2028 worth $40M+ per season (plus a 15% trade kicker). No thanks.
There are other options out there without gambling the team’s future. Ja in Miami would be like a kid in a candy shop or even worse, a bull in a china shop, packing a 9mm.
how the f do u know that are u his father.theres tons of athletes that have turned their careers around going to other teams give the guy a break hes young guy whos prob learned his lesson .once he meets pat with all those rings things could change.his injury history little worrisome but talent is undeniable.im trading him for herro and davion.a bc of ja powell with wiggy bam ware looks good to me.davion for his career is in single digits .whos out there besides greek who your gonna have to gut your team anyway and your competing with 30 other teams.real longshot on greek
Really bizarre. You personally said you don’t want him here because he’s a thug.
just look at our own alonzo mourning from georgetown carolina and the heat.when u meet the gf sht happens.mourning was a malcontent at georgetown and now is sort of the face of the heat off the ct.great job pat.next in line for the gf is ja lol
P.S. Morant has never been better than a below-average overall defender. If you like Herro’s defense you’ll love Morant’s.
how much ja morant basketball have u watched .ive watched herro guard and if ja comes here and plays d like herro id be dissapointed.1/2 the game is defense thats why ty needs to go.besides other reasons.
Overpaid, overhyped, injury prone, prima donna, poor 3 point shooter with a bad attitude and a ton of baggage.
No way.
The Heat are clearly gunning for Giannis. And I think everyone is on the table.
If it’s Ja, that’s a fall-back plan. And I’m guessing it’s for a lowball offer. Maybe Powell and a first round pick.
NO WAY would I trade Powell. Not even straight up. He’s been the among the very best players on this team, arguably the best.
Powell is an all star level player, Morant is not right now.
wow. I’m not even disagreeing with you, but who would have guessed 6 months ago that we wouldn’t want to turn Kevin Love into Ja Morant.
so if it’s not Powell, is it Herro being traded for Morant? Because if it’s not one of those two, then there’s basically no trade for Morant
Herro seems to definitely be odd man out on this team, but it would take more than Herro. Probably another player or a pick.
I think if the Grizzlies are really trying to get rid of Morant, Herro is a fine return. Maybe the Heat throw in a first round pick.
I will say hat Herro plus a big man (plus picks and maybe one other player) is the Giannis trade. So if Herro for Morant is the trade, it’s probably not happening until the Giannis situation is resolved.
Yes, I think you’re right on both counts.
Powell is better player right now. Herro is also a better player right now then Ja.
If we trade for Ja, we trade for believe, that there is a good posibility that his enormous potential will be realized in Miami. Will Ja ever be healthy and mature enough to do it?
Not very likely in my opinion. But its possible.
i think if u asked the nba players between herro and ja whos better i think almost all of them would say ja
Lol, you conducted this poll when?
The question should be which version of Ja. Current one is not the top 100 players in the league.
who wouldnt be gunning for giannis.do u live in oregon.have u watched powell play this year..
you’re gonna be amazed when you discover how television works
I would not trade Davion for him straight up. Great athlete and defender. Reliable. Ability of availability. Best assist to turnover ratio in the league.
If I HAD to make a deal, and since it seems Herro is odd man out, Herro and Rozier plus a future pick for Ja and Aldama.
ja for dav i would do that deal.ja for norm no way.high risk high reward.ive seen ja single handedly beat teams in memphis playoff runs.then again he flashes guns.keep this team status quo i wont meet u this year bisc blvd in july
I like Aldama. That a fair trade.
Heat can’t trade Rozier. Heat doesn’t need Morant. Aldama is a good, inexpensive second stringer to rotate with Bam and Ware.
Note: Miami has dropped back down to #16 in power rankings.
love to have his talent here, herro and mitchell should be enough.