Zach Kleiman shuts down recent Ja Morant trade buzz

Zach Kleiman shuts down recent Ja Morant trade buzz

In the NBA, for better or worse, we see stars get moved all the time.

We aren’t long removed from Luka Doncic, a top-3 player on the planet, unexpectedly getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis; a disgruntled Jimmy Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors to pair up with Stephen Curry. I could go on with a list of blockbusters that sent stars packing. It happens more frequently than it does in any other sport.

Recently on The Real Ones Podcast, The Ringer’s Howard Beck tried to pinpoint the next star to be traded based on intel he was hearing. His pick? Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, one of the most tantalizing point guards in the NBA.

An NBA executive pegs Ja Morant as a star to “keep an eye on” as a potential trade candidate this summer if the Grizzlies flame out early, per @HowardBeck on @ringer.

“I'm constantly checking in with executives around trade deadline about like, okay, what we saw, what we didn't… pic.twitter.com/QL3LXpgMSa

— APHoops (@APH00PS) February 18, 2025

That answer came to be a surprise to many, including Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman, who was firm on his stance about (NOT) trading Ja Morant.

“I can’t blame other ‘executives’ for fantasizing about us trading Ja,” Kleiman said, according to Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian. “But it’s just that — fantasy. We are not trading Ja.

“Continue to underestimate Ja, this team and this city, and we will let our performance on the floor speak for itself. I’m not going to give this nonsense further oxygen and look forward to getting back to basketball.”

I reached out to Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman to see if he would comment about the recent speculation around Ja. Here’s what he had to say:

“I can’t blame other “executives” for fantasizing about us trading Ja. But it’s just that – fantasy. We are not trading Ja. Continue to…

— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) February 19, 2025

Morant, 25, is in the second year of a five-year rookie max extension he signed ahead of the 2022-23 season. He is on the books for $36.7 million this season followed by $39.4M, $41.2M and $44.9M over the next three seasons, respectively

He’s having a down season statistically, but he’s still a must-watch talent nightly. Morant’s averaging 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists on 44.7 percent shooting, including 32.1 percent from 3-point range and 81.0 percent from the free-throw line. He’s also a playoff-riser–in 19 games, he’s posted averages of 27-7-9-1.5 steals on 44.9/35.7/75.8 shooting splits.

Zach Kleiman Put On A Disasterclass Asset Management Clinic With Marcus Smart

The Grizzlies have the second-best record in the West at 36-18, only a 0.5 game ahead of the red-hot Denver Nuggets and 2.5 games ahead of the Houston Rockets. While they are about to become very expensive with Jaren Jackson Jr. up for extension this offseason, there would be no point in trading Morant right now unless you’re looking to reset … or a player like Luka Doncic becomes available (that won’t happen again, right?!?).

The Grizzlies have a very good foundation of Morant, Desmond Bane, Jackson, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama, etc. Are they due for consolidation? Yes, way overdue. But that order of business will be around Morant, not using him as a facilitator, even though every player has a price.

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