Ja Morant landing spots: NBA insider shares 4 options for Grizzlies trade; Kings reveal key condition

Ja Morant reportedly informed his teammates and other players that he is not playing for Memphis anymore.

Published on: Apr 17, 2026, 24:29:09 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Ja Morant is back in the headlines. The Grizzlies star reportedly informed his teammates and other players that he is not playing for Memphis anymore. ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Michael C Wright further revealed on Thursday that the 26-year-old still 'hasn't gotten over his suspension', and felt ‘alienated by teammates’. However, there is a $197 million contract, running through 2027, that has to be dealt with.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the court before an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (AP)

Ja Morant landing spots

As potential trade rumors go around NBA circles, insiders have revealed four realistic landing spots for Morant. Jake Weinbach tweeted that the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets could be in play.

“I would list the Kings, Bucks, Heat, and Nets as reasonable landing spots for Ja Morant this summer with more teams potentially entering the mix based on playoff results," he noted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

Kings’ interest hinges on one major factor

Among those teams, Sacramento’s approach appears the most conditional. The Kings are reportedly expected to prioritize the 2026 NBA Draft, targeting a young lead guard. Only if they fail to secure a top prospect are they likely to seriously revisit a move for Morant.

League insiders suggest this wait-and-see strategy is tied to both roster construction and financial flexibility, with Morant’s long-term contract and injury history adding layers of risk.

According to MacMahon and Wright, Memphis has already quietly explored trade scenarios. The front office, led by GM Zach Kleiman, reportedly engaged in discussions with teams, including Sacramento, but no deal materialized before the deadline.

Tensions in Memphis fuel uncertainty

Behind the scenes, Morant’s relationship with Memphis appears strained following a suspension and internal fallout.

“Morant still hasn’t gotten over the suspension, multiple league sources said, because he felt alienated by teammates, who were told to leave the star guard alone so he could work through the issues that had led to the suspension. In the aftermath, Morant told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn’t playing for Memphis anymore, sources said,” the ESPN writers stated.

His decision to skip the team’s exit interview and signs of distancing from teammates have only added to speculation about an eventual split.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.