“Blockbuster NBA Shake-Up: Ja Morant Trade Rumors Intensify—Which Team Will Land the All-Star?”

MEMPHIS — Ja Morant’s time with the Grizzlies appears to be ticking down, and league sources say Memphis is actively shopping the two-time All-Star as part of a full franchise reset following the 2026 NBA Draft. Why Memphis is motivated: • New cornerstone Cameron Boozer was taken No. 3 overall, signaling a youth-first rebuild. • Morant has missed 167 of 246 regular-season games in the last three years, and some front offices are wary of his durability. • Memphis holds a $29 million trade exception that can ease salary-matching hurdles and sweeten multi-team frameworks. Contract snapshot: Morant is owed $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28, the final two seasons of his rookie-max extension. Any acquiring team would gain two playoff runs of club control before he hits free agency at age 28. Top emerging suitor — Phoenix Suns: Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes and The Sporting News identify Phoenix as the “surprising” front-runner, dangling scoring guard Jalen Green in talks that would finally slot Devin Booker back to off-ball duties. The Suns crave a downhill playmaker, and Morant’s transition juice could extend Kevin Durant’s window without the Suns surrendering their remaining first-round picks. Other teams monitoring: Miami, Chicago and San Antonio have all done preliminary due diligence, sources tell The Sporting News, but none have put a formal package on the table. Minnesota and New Orleans have already bowed out, preferring internal options at point guard. Risk-reward calculus: • Upside — At age 26 Morant still owns a career 24.7-PER and elite rim-pressure metrics. • Red flags — A career-low 41.0 FG% and lingering elbow issues depressed his 19.5 PPG average in just 20 games last season. Timeline to watch: Front-office insiders expect movement before July 15, when Memphis must decide whether to fully guarantee Luke Kennard’s $15 million deal — a potential outgoing salary that could be stapled to Morant in a blockbuster. Bottom line: With a gigantic trade exception, a new franchise face in Boozer and patience wearing thin around Morant’s availability, Memphis is signaling it’s “open for business.” The question is which contender will meet the asking price for one of the NBA’s most electrifying, if enigmatic, point guards.