As the NBA schedule nears the quarter mark of the season, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on the trade market for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, and Boston Celtics.
Ja Morant trade talks
Following an argument with Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo and a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, rival NBA executives circled like vultures conducting due diligence to see if the Ja Morant era in Memphis was nearing an end.
However, Grizzlies executive Zach Kleiman declined trade inquiries on Morant then and has since, for the time being, league sources told HoopsHype.
Currently, Morant is sidelined with a right calf strain. The two-time All-Star has also missed 185 of a possible 492 regular-season games for the Grizzlies in the previous six seasons.
In addition to Morant’s unavailability on the court and questionable behavior off the court – which has included two suspensions for incidents involving firearms – his signature drives to the hoop for highlight dunks, 360 layups, and assists have plummeted to a career-low 14.58 drives on 40 percent shooting. It’s also the second consecutive season where Morant’s drives and field goal percentage on drives have substantially declined.
Trading for Morant, who is owed $39.45 million this season and a combined $87 million over the next two years, would be a significant financial commitment for any team to consider.
While teams looked to inquire on a potential buy-low opportunity regarding the 26-year-old point guard and following the Desmond Bane trade this summer, the Grizzlies have shown no urgency yet to begin a rebuild by trading Morant or fellow star Jaren Jackson Jr., especially when Morant’s value isn’t as high as it previously was.
With that said, rival NBA executives will be carefully monitoring Memphis to see if they decide to retool the roster with the draft picks acquired from the Bane trade or pivot to a rebuild and trade Morant and Jackson Jr.
Timberwolves trade talks for Ja Morant and more
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been aggressive on the trade market in the Tim Connelly era, including acquiring Rudy Gobert in 2022, trading Karl-Anthony Towns in 2024, pursuing Kevin Durant at last year’s trade deadline, and inquiring on Ja Morant already this season.
Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is considered untouchable by the franchise, while forward Jaden McDaniels is viewed as close to untouchable as well, league sources told HoopsHype.
In addition to his lockdown All-Defensive prowess, McDaniels has taken a substantial leap offensively this season. Before McDaniels’ iron-man streak of 157 consecutive regular-season games ended on November 19th, which marked the NBA’s fifth-longest active streak, he was averaging career-highs in points (17.5) on the highest efficiency of his career from the field (55.3 percent from the field) and beyond the arc (52.1 percent from 3-point range).
While Edwards and McDaniels are viewed as young pillars for the Timberwolves, Minnesota’s due diligence on Morant signaled the team’s desire to upgrade at point guard and will continue to be on the agenda leading up to the trade deadline, league sources said.
While starting guard Donte DiVincenzo has played well, averaging 13.8 points on 38.8 percent shooting from downtown, and Mike Conley is a capable backup point guard, power forward Julius Randle leads the team in assists (5.8).
Combo guard Rob Dillingham, the former No. 8 pick of the 2024 draft, has yet to consistently carve out a significant role off the bench under coach Chris Finch, which has also been a noteworthy development.
What’s next for the Kings?
The Sacramento Kings were among the teams to inquire regarding the availability of Ja Morant and have signaled the franchise will gauge the trade market for Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan.
While exploratory conversations checking in on Morant didn’t gain much traction, let’s take a look at the latest intel HoopsHype has gathered on Sabonis, LaVine, DeRozan, Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis, and coach Doug Christie below.
* Domantas Sabonis has helped Sacramento end the league’s longest playoff drought during the 2022-23 season, been a three-time rebounding champion, a two-time All-NBA selection, and an All-Star during his tenure with the Kings.
However, Sabonis has been disappointed with Sacramento’s downward trajectory since reaching the playoffs and his usage at times under coach Doug Christie, league sources told HoopsHype.
While Sabonis’ rebounding has remained consistent, his scoring (17.6 points) and assists (5.6) have dipped in 53 combined games under Christie over the past two seasons. For comparison, Sabonis averaged 19.3 points and 7.7 assists under former coach Mike Brown during the prior two seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24).
It’s worth noting that Sabonis, who’s out with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, will be re-evaluated around the middle of December.
* Thus, with the 29-year-old Lithuanian center owed $42.34 million this season and $94.08 million combined for the following two years, it would be a sizable financial commitment for any interested team to absorb in a trade. The trade markets for Sacramento’s Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have been relatively quiet thus far, with the exception of two recent new items.
The Milwaukee Bucks have conducted background due diligence on LaVine and others around the league, as usual, sources told HoopsHype. However, nothing is imminent as Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo nears a return from a low-grade adductor strain.
Should Milwaukee’s interest in LaVine become more serious, it’s worth noting that Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma and Kings Governor Vivek Ranadive both invested in a new women’s professional sports venture called Major League Volleyball, and Kuzma has been linked to the Kings via trade rumors for several seasons.
LaVine, who’s averaged 21.8 points in his Kings tenure on an efficient 50.7 percent shooting from the field and 42.6 percent from 3-point range, is owed $47.5 million this season and has a $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
DeRozan, who was once again linked to the Clippers in a recent report from The Athletic, is owed $24.75 million this season. Next season, DeRozan is guaranteed $10 million of his $25.74 million salary.
The 36-year-old swingman is averaging 18.7 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 36.1 percent from downtown this season.
* Following Sacramento’s five-year, $140 million extension with forward Keegan Murray, the most coveted player on Sacramento’s roster has been guard Keon Ellis, according to various NBA executives who’ve spoken with HoopsHype.
Many executives around the league have been surprised by Ellis’ declining playing time with the Kings this season despite his valuable 3-and-D skillset.
Some executives around the league were surprised when the Kings didn’t decline Ellis’ $2.3 million team option for this season and work on a new deal with him when he would’ve been a restricted free agent this past summer and had leverage.
However, with Sacramento $3.2 million below the luxury tax, a new deal for Ellis in retrospect would’ve likely put the Kings over the threshold.
Instead, Ellis will enter unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026, and the Kings or a team that acquires Ellis via trade will have his Bird Rights.
The Indiana Pacers have been among many teams to express interest in Ellis this season and have previously targeted him, league sources told HoopsHype.
Celtics and Nets intel
Following several trades this summer to duck below the second apron, the Boston Celtics are currently $12 million above the luxury tax threshold.
Amid a projected gap season for the Celtics with star forward Jayson Tatum out for the foreseeable future after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs, many around the league have wondered if another trade could loom for Boston to drop below the luxury tax entirely.
The Celtics are under no pressure to reduce their current luxury tax bill, which they’ve budgeted for, but wouldn’t mind going below the tax for the right deal, league sources told HoopsHype.
Getting below the luxury tax entirely could conceivably be achieved by trading guard Anfernee Simons or shedding the salaries of Sam Hauser and another minimum-salary player.
Simons is in the final year of his contract worth $27.68 million, while Hauser is beginning a four-year, $45 million contract extension this season.
With that in mind, Boston hasn’t shown a willingness to attach a first-round pick to trade Simons’ expiring contract, league sources told HoopsHype.
The 26-year-old guard has averaged 14.4 points on 41.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 17 games off the bench for Boston this season.
Over the summer, the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics discussed several trade scenarios involving Simons that ultimately fell through, league sources told HoopsHype. The Milwaukee Bucks also kept tabs on Simons, HoopsHype has learned.
It’s worth noting that Boston also planned to pursue Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe in free agency, league sources told HoopsHype. The Celtics would’ve been limited to only a minimum offer for Sharpe, but were prepared to offer a chance to compete for the starting center spot this season.
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