Herrington: Why is a Ja Morant trade now possible? Follow the money — and three seasons of disappointment.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant warms up before the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 26, 2025, in Memphis. (Brandon Dill/AP)
Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington has covered the Memphis Grizzlies, in one way or another, since the franchise’s second season in Memphis, while also writing about music, movies, food and civic life. As far as he knows, he’s the only member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association who is also a member of a film critics group and has also voted in national music critic polls for Rolling Stone and the Village Voice (RIP). He and his wife have two kids and, for reasons that sometimes elude him, three dogs.
And here we are.
Midday Friday brought confirmation of something that was becoming more expected in the preceding days and weeks: The Memphis Grizzlies will entertain trade options for star guard Ja Morant ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.
The wording of the reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania carries the unmistakable calibration of franchise messaging: The Grizzlies will explore trade offers for Morant but are not committed to dealing him; the franchise is considering “multiple paths forward,” which include the remaining prospect of “continu(ing) with Morant as the focal part (sic) of their rebuild.”
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