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ESPN analyst says the trade market is as non-hyped for Ja Morant as it was for Trae Young
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- ESPN analyst says the trade market is as non-hyped for Ja Morant as it was for Trae Young
While Ja Morant was never viewed as the kind of player who would routinely lead the league in scoring or consistently deliver 30-40-point performances, his game always conveyed something more valuable — an unwavering belief to do everything on the court to make his team win games at any cost. At one point, that perception alone was enough for any team to throw the kitchen sink at the thought of acquiring the two-time All-Star.
However, now that Ja is genuinely on the trade market and the Memphis organization is willing to listen to trade offers for him, no team has gone all-in just yet. According to Chris Mannix, that is because the trade market has become as saturated for Morant as it earlier became for four-time All-Star Trae Young , who was recently traded to a franchise that has never made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2002.
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Are Ja and Trae in the same boat?
On paper, the comparison is staggering and striking. Trae led the league in assists and has even shown that at his offensive peak, he could average 28.4 points per game. That alone convinced many that a championship-caliber team would give its all to acquire him. However, the Washington Wizards acquired him in exchange for Corey Kispert and an aging CJ McCollum , indicating how the Hawks were itching to just part ways with Young at any cost.
According to Mannix, Morant is likely to face a similar reality. Given the series of his off-court controversies, injury absences and repeated behavioral issues, the narrative around Ja has changed completely. Rather than being viewed as a young superstar worthy of leading a franchise to a title, he is seen as a complex asset who might disrupt the camaraderie within the organization at any point if operations are not run according to his vision.
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" Just like the marketplace for Trae Young dried up to the point where you could acquire him for CJ McCollum and Cory Kispert," Mannix said . " I don't think the market for Ja Morant is anything beyond matching salary and maybe some filler."
Will Morant be traded in the coming weeks?
In many ways, Mannix's viewpoint has only been reinforced this season. Throughout the 2025-26 season so far, Morant appeared in just 18 games and is averaging 19.0 points per game (his lowest since his sophomore year). On top of that, as the inexperienced Memphis team works hard to secure its place among the Play-In berths, Ja is often seen on the bench with little concern, leaving his teammates exposed in the ultra-tough Western Conference landscape.
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This perceived lack of seriousness and discipline issues are precisely what have doomed the hyped narrative around young players like Jordan Poole , Morant or Zion Williamson . All of these players possess quality talent, but lack the blueprint to thrive under every system, which is why they are no longer counted among the best of the new generation. Put simply, in today's NBA, reliability and accountability are beginning to matter just as much as raw talent, and that shift may be costing Morant the most.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
