Ja Morant has had his share of issues over the last few seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. His on-court play has not taken the leap many expected, and his off-court problems and attitude appear to be wearing thin on the organization. With Morant under contract for two more years after this season, any team that trades for him would be committing to him as a long-term piece. Here are my top three teams that should target Ja Morant in a trade.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have not had the first half of the season they envisioned, especially with constant rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. Acquiring Morant would immediately bolster their backcourt alongside Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. The Bucks also have yet to adequately replace Damian Lillard with a viable long-term option.
Photo Cred: Bleacher Report
During their recent deep playoff runs, Milwaukee has consistently relied on a strong point guard—first Eric Bledsoe, then Jrue Holiday, followed by Damian Lillard. Right now, that presence is missing. For a deal to work, the Bucks would likely need to include Kyle Kuzma and potentially Bobby Portis, along with draft compensation. Pairing Morant with Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner, surrounded by Milwaukee’s shooters, would instantly raise the team’s ceiling and make the Bucks a significantly more dangerous contender.
2. Miami Heat
The Heat have hovered around .500 for much of the season, which falls short of the standard in South Beach. They also lack a true starting point guard. Tyler Herro has handled point guard duties, while Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell have taken turns running the offense. With Terry Rozier placed on indefinite leave by the NBA for sports betting, Miami’s need for a starting-caliber point guard has become even more pressing.
Photo Cred: Clutch Points
A potential package could include Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jović, and Davion Mitchell in exchange for Morant. His athleticism and downhill attacking ability would be a major addition for Miami and would put the Heat in the conversation for one of the league’s best backcourts alongside Powell, who has played at an All-Star level over the past two seasons. I also believe Pat Riley’s leadership and Miami’s culture could help keep Morant’s off-court issues in check, making this a much-needed reset for his NBA career.
3. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have enjoyed a better-than-expected first half of the season. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram are both playing at All-Star levels, and that production should continue. Barnes is an outstanding all-around player, but he is more of a connector and secondary creator than a consistent downhill scorer. Immanuel Quickley is a solid guard but profiles best as a combo guard rather than a defense-breaking superstar.
Photo Cred: TWSN Sports
RJ Barrett thrives attacking closeouts and mismatches, not as a primary initiator. Morant would immediately become one of Toronto’s best self-creators, providing a guard who can collapse defenses off the dribble, generate easy looks for teammates, and carry scoring stretches when the offense stalls. A trade package built around either Quickley or Barrett, along with Jakob Poeltl and Gradey Dick, should be enough to entice Memphis.
