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NBA rumors: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant trade asking price dropping like a rock
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- NBA rumors: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant trade asking price dropping like a rock
NBA rumors: Grizzlies' Ja Morant trade asking price dropping like a rock appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
There was a time when the Memphis Grizzlies ' Ja Morant was one of the faces of the league. However, now, just a few years later, the Grizzlies are out actively shopping Morant , and have seen their asking price drop continuously over the last few weeks.
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Per ESPN's Vincent Goodwill, the 26-year-old's contract and consistent health issues have scared teams away , which has seen the Grizzlies' asking price drop 'considerably.' Before the draft, they were actively looking for draft capital, which eventually turned into pick swaps. Recently, however, they are merely looking to match player salaries in their bid to move on from the player. Instead, other teams reportedly asked the Grizzlies for draft compensation to take on Morant.
The Grizzlies have no interest in keeping Morant and are instead looking to build around their young core of Cedric Coward , Zach Edey , Jaylen Wells and No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer . Morant has appeared in just 79 games over the past three seasons, and will make approximately $42 million and $44.9 million over the next two seasons, leaving Memphis with a shrinking pool of realistic suitors.
The market has cooled to the point that some teams have gone a step further by asking the Grizzlies to include draft compensation simply to absorb Morant's contract, viewing him more as a problem than a problem-solver. The Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster also reshaped Morant's market.
Before Miami acquired Antetokounmpo, the Heat had expressed interest in Morant as a potential target. Teams that failed to acquire Antetokounmpo could still revisit Morant, but league sources indicate many remain unwilling to move forward unless Memphis sweetens any deal with additional draft assets.
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Still, the expectation remains that the Grizzlies will trade Morant this week as they attempt to retool around their young roster and add other stars in free agency. Of course, while Morant has had injury woes, he was still elite when he played, averaging close to 20 points along with 8.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game across 20 appearances last season. Hence, as his price continues to drop, the teams that miss out on their primary targets may as well revisit the possibility of adding the former Grizzlies talisman.
Related: Grizzlies' Cameron Boozer sends 'shockingly good' warning to rest of NBA
Related: How Jaylen Brown, Ja Morant can achieve new goals in 4-team deal with Bucks, Pelicans
