Ja Morant Trade Value Plummets for Memphis Grizzlies

Merlin sees a storm brewing around Ja Morant. Reports say Memphis is "entertaining offers" and ESPN's Tim MacMahon relayed harsh feedback: "the feedback we got on Ja wasn't any more favorable than the feedback that we got on Trae [Young]." One exec even called him "a pain in the ass, injury prone, not that good any more, and big contract." Morant's scoring has slipped, his 3 point shooting is down, and a heavy $39.5 million salary plus more guaranteed makes any trade complicated. Merlin notes the market for undersized, inefficient ball handlers is chilly and luxury tax rules make teams wary. The Grizzlies can find a taker, but likely for far less draft capital than fans hope. Expect quiet negotiating, tense calls, and potential price cuts as the deadline nears.