Sources: Miami Heat have quickly emerged as an attractive option to Ja Morant and his camp
- - Sources: Miami Heat have quickly emerged as an attractive option to Ja Morant and his camp
Kelly Iko January 14, 2026 at 7:04 AM
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With the Memphis Grizzlies slated to play two games across Germany and England this week, star point guard Ja Morant plans to meet with key members of his camp in Europe in response to recent trade rumors, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Last Friday, the Grizzlies reportedly made Morant available in trade talks. The reported decision deeply disappointed Morant and his camp, according to a well-placed source close to the situation. The 26-year-old, who has been deeply invested in the city of Memphis and its fan base, hasn’t asked for a trade, sources say, but is essentially backed into a corner with the trade deadline less than a month away.
“Live with it,” Morant bluntly told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday of his reaction to reports of his potential departure.
Morant, along with his business team — led by Phil Morant, Ja’s uncle, who takes lead on most of his day-to-day affairs — will discuss important next steps for the seventh-year pro.
While there is a collective understanding that Morant’s value is the lowest it’s ever been — a combination of the diluted point guard market, his injury and suspension history, and his offensive decline — his camp is determined to find the best solution through due diligence.
There are teams with varying levels of interest in Morant — Minnesota, Sacramento and Milwaukee to name a few — but Miami has quickly emerged as an attractive option to Morant and his camp in recent days, sources say.
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The Heat have historically been regarded as one of the NBA’s most detail-oriented and structured organizations, a major aspect of development that appeals to Morant, who has missed 34 games due to various suspensions. Morant also has a deep respect for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who also runs Team USA; Morant desires to represent his country in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Miami’s veteran presence is an additional selling point and something Morant craves.
Additionally, Morant, with three years and $125 million remaining on his current deal, is hopeful of securing a max extension by next summer, sources say.
In the interim, Morant is aiming to return to 100% after missing time with a calf injury.
“We are not in the business of commenting on random internet reports,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo told reporters in Germany on Tuesday. “He’s progressing in the practices. He’s already able to do a lot of the parts of practice, so looking good to progress (toward playing).”
Morant, who last played on Jan. 2 in Los Angeles, has appeared in just 18 games this season, averaging 19 points (his fewest since his rookie season) and 7.6 assists per game, while putting up career-lows in 3-point and effective field-goal percentage.
While in Europe, Morant also plans to spend time with Levallois Metropolitans, a third-division French basketball team which Morant acquired a significant ownership stake through his media and investment firm Catch12 last month.
Memphis, which has lost six of its last eight games, sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 17-22 record.
Source: “AOL Sports”
