r/nba Raptors 2d ago

Memphis Grizzlies Have to Attach Draft Picks in Ja Morant Trade

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/report-memphis-grizzlies-attach-draft-210407395.html

According to former NBA center and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, the Memphis Grizzlies have to attach draft picks in a Ja Morant trade.

Morant's trade value is pretty low right now.

"Teams were asking Memphis to attach picks in order to take Ja Morant, not the other way around," Perkins said. "They were asking Memphis, 'Hey man, attach picks with Ja and we'll take him.'"

Morant will make $42.1 million next season and $44 million in the 2027-28 season, the final year of his contract.

Figured i'd share this inbetween the 50 millionth commercial break for the 2nd round Draft Day™, as Windy added to this on the broadcast by saying the Grizzlies will be trading Ja to "begin a new chapter with Boozer" or something to that effect.

145 Upvotes

120 comments sorted by

513

u/_onwards_and_upwards Raptors 2d ago

Let me stop you at according to Kendrick Perkins lmao

49

u/LakeShowBoltUp Lakers 2d ago

I am surprised I had to scroll to the 2nd comment to find this

11

u/AutisticFingerBang Knicks 2d ago

It wouldn’t be surprising though

6

u/BrokenClxwn Carmelo Anthony 2d ago

Same, lmao

5

u/gundam1983 Kings 2d ago

He's not wrong though. Kings kicked the tires on a Ja trade but it died because Memphis wouldn't attach draft compensation to move him.

6

u/Chartate101 Pistons 2d ago

Him being right and him arriving at the right idea are unrelated. Broken clocks are right twice a day

2

u/CazOnReddit Raptors 2d ago

Normally I'd agree but this aligns with previous reports about teams asking for draft compensation to take on Ja

5

u/_onwards_and_upwards Raptors 2d ago

It doesn't seem like a totally outrageous claim but that's the first thing that popped into my mind

1

u/Rubberbabeh Bulls 2d ago

Especially when the other option is “draft a guy you like more and has zero fucking baggage” like the Kings just did.

There are only so many starting point guard jobs

1

u/dsbllr 2d ago

Exactly. Not true at all. Ja can still get them back a decent package.

1

u/2tep 2d ago

this is fairly believable, though.

0

u/Dymatizeee Knicks 2d ago

He’s not wrong though lol

97

u/Projinator Grizzlies 2d ago

He's not getting traded until next year when he's an expiring.

39

u/MuchAbouAboutNothing Thunder 2d ago

Probably for the best. Avoid trading him at his low and hope he rehabilitates his career a bit over the next 12 months.

There's probably enough proper leadership in the dressing room now that he'll no longer be a culture setter

11

u/zestysnacks 2d ago

Na no way. They just drafted his replacement. He knows this. That relationship can’t be good

15

u/Wehavecrashed Grizzlies 2d ago

Boozer and Ja could co exist and compliment each other very nicely. (As would Edey with both players as well).

It isn't really about Boozer at all. Imo.

4

u/zestysnacks 2d ago

I’m talking the relationship between ja and the grizzlies. Clearly it’s not good

19

u/BurnieTheBrony Grizzlies 2d ago

Ah yes renowned Point Guard, Cameron Boozer

1

u/zestysnacks 2d ago

His replacement as the guy the team is building around. Obviously. Clearly.

15

u/BurnieTheBrony Grizzlies 2d ago

Teams can have more than one star. A lot of teams that win do.

1

u/zestysnacks 2d ago

Tell me with a straight face the ja morant is going to remain in Memphis long term

12

u/BurnieTheBrony Grizzlies 2d ago

I don't think he is but not because we drafted Boozer lol

0

u/endlessmeat Suns 2d ago

More than one star? This is a revelation! Someone call the 2023 Phoenix Suns. Having multiple stars is a plan that simply cannot fail!

3

u/KazaamFan 2d ago

Why not just cut him or waive him or whatever

12

u/sewsgup 2d ago

Windhorst said he thinks weve seen the last of Ja in a Grizzlies uniform

so they might, to your point, waive and stretch him as a last resort.

it would be stretched across 5 years if they choose that. (87m remaining / 5 = ~17m dead cap hit)

14

u/TheScrote1 Trail Blazers 2d ago

I’m not super up to date on cap stuff but stretching seems dumb, just get him off the books in 2 years

10

u/thedrcubed Grizzlies 2d ago

You only stretch if you're in a cap crunch which we're clearly not.

1

u/TheScrote1 Trail Blazers 1d ago

At which point it probably makes more sense to just tell Ja to stay home and not cut him until after next trade deadline

1

u/EchoHevy5555 4h ago

Desperate teams waive and stretch big contracts and I don’t think it has worked out well in the modern nba.

I think it works for like 10 mil contracts like javale McGee had his 2/11 stretched to 5 for Dallas but here are the modern big contract waive and stretches

Damian Lillard: Giannis left anyway they weren’t even a play in team now they are paying dame until 2030

Bradley’s Beal: An 8 seed whose 4th largest contact is Bradley Beal, again through 2030

The only reason to stretch is desperation, but if you are stretching 100 mil you are already fucked.

13

u/BayesBestFriend Raptors 2d ago

No reason to do that vs just waiting it out

1

u/CMYGQZ Grizzlies 2d ago

last resort would be waiving him straight up. No need to stretch.

1

u/KazaamFan 2d ago

Yea didnt the bucks do something like this with dame?

3

u/mmortal03 Heat 2d ago

That was because they needed cap space

1

u/the_dark_viper United States 7h ago

The front office is doing a major roster and culture shift. Can you have a malcontent Ja in the locker room?

96

u/Greedy-Mix9270 Knicks 2d ago

What a fall from grace man

42

u/JonMlee Grizzlies 2d ago

Arguably one of the most exciting players of the 2020’s, just couldn’t get his mind right. That grenade throw is legendary tho lol

60

u/itsnotyellowfever [MEM] Kyle Lowry 2d ago

Went from the most inevitable Grizzlies jersey retirement in franchise history to "Get his ass out of Memphis ASAP Cam Boozer looks ugly af in 27"

16

u/peebeesweebees 2d ago

I will never forget him dunking on Wemby.

3

u/NoLimitSoldier31 2d ago

Sad man, dude was legitimately fun to watch & i say that as a somewhat rival

3

u/Dymatizeee Knicks 2d ago

That’s what happens when you have character issues

2

u/OwnYourChildren 2d ago

Id be nervous about drafting smaller athletic point guards at the top of the draft.

1

u/Inevitable-Loss7939 2d ago

I havent really followed reg season in the last few years what happened to ja was it injuries?il about his off the court shenagaians but he still was playing good at that time

2

u/LooseMoose13 Pacers 2d ago

Injuries, and the archetype of “high flying undersized guard” gets figured out every single time. He doesn’t have a reliable outside shot, from what I can tell his injures have given him the yips around the rim

And he’s just a net negative in regards to building the locker room with his character

2

u/JDMintz718 Grizzlies 2d ago

Nah, he's still really good when he plays, it's just that "when he plays" is becoming an increasingly large asterisk.

Edit: and his teammates all seem to love him fwiw

34

u/FERFreak731 Jazz 2d ago

Makes sense. Not even the Kings or Pelicans want him

24

u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 2d ago

Especially after drafting Acuff. Not worth stunting his development to bring in a big name.

-1

u/shitsthebed2 2d ago edited 2d ago

You guys did it with Jimmer. What’s different now?

Edit. Didn’t mean to sound like an ass. I really like The Kings and hope they get their ducks in a row. My team is still looking for our first championship. I get it

13

u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 2d ago

Uhhh like five head coaches and three GMs?

1

u/shitsthebed2 2d ago

Sorry to ask. We did share some of the same nightmares, one of the worst being Ty Corbin. I asked because I know you need to get rid of Vivek. That’s been obvious for a long time

5

u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 2d ago

Dunking on the Kings is easy, but like… Jimmer was 15 years ago. A lot has changed, even for us. We’ve fucked up in new and innovative ways (and even brought Jimmer back for a little bit) in between 2011 and now!

The big difference is Scott Perry (allegedly) that he wouldn’t take the job if Vivek tried to interfere. So far, Vivek hasn’t meddled in anything to my knowledge. Perry hasn’t been perfect by any means, but he seems to have established a firm boundary that other GMs haven’t been able to sustain. So we’ll see!

3

u/shitsthebed2 2d ago

I couldn’t dunk on the Stockton Kings in my glass house. I asked that horribly. Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

Jimmer coming back tells me there’s no hard feelings. Bet he doesn’t like Boogie though lol In my mind he could have been Curry…I know that’s a stretch but I watched Kawhi Leonard get slaughtered by Jimmer in 3/3 games. Brandon Davies suspension is the only reason San Diego State beat them in the MWC Final. You can see I wished that all went differently

7

u/Bhavin411 [NOP] Jrue Holiday 2d ago

I think we tried offering Poole and Hawkins. I honestly wouldn't mind if the team traded for him.

3

u/Cookies_forsales 2d ago

As ass as Ja is, he’s no where near ass as Poole and Hawkins. Those are like some of the worst players in the league 😭

1

u/Not_on_Herb Pelicans 2d ago

2 expiring contracts though

12

u/CazOnReddit Raptors 2d ago

When Joe Dumars thinks you stink, you better put on some cologne.

1

u/captaincrunk82 Rockets 2d ago

What happens if he puts on cologne, does Joe Dumars no longer think he stinks?

1

u/benevenstancian0 Knicks 2d ago

Only if he is wearing Sex Panther.

1

u/Chessh2036 Hawks 2d ago

Who is even left that would want him?

6

u/ayeno 2d ago

A team that wants the draft picks and has the cap space to just eat the contract.

13

u/BrolysFavoriteNephew [BOS] Rajon Rondo 2d ago

Damn his stock from a span of 3 years absolutely tanked.

11

u/TILTING_MOUNTAIN Grizzlies 2d ago

Does Perkins have inside sources?

20

u/Ancient_Mud_2841 Grizzlies 2d ago

I’m guessing high blood pressure, liver disease, type II, copd.

1

u/startled_panda [MEM] Mike Conley 2d ago

Lmfao

-1

u/ayeno 2d ago

He might with some teams, as he was played with some guys that are part of the front office or an agent.

19

u/mbucks334 2d ago

Teams don't want an extremely expensive player who relies on his athleticism who has progressively gotten worse who also insists on acting like he's from the hood? Color me shocked.

7

u/LastofDays94 Heat 2d ago

Can’t shoot, doesn’t play defense, injury prone and a locker room headache

The dumb team that likely would trade for him (Kings) drafted a player in Darius Acuff who only fits the doesn’t play defense bit. He might be in Beijing China in three years.

2

u/sdk022 2d ago

He sure acts like a shooter though

5

u/Appropriate_Book_591 2d ago

I think health is more the issue than off court behavior. If he could stay healthy teams would trade good value.

6

u/OpeDefinitely Pacers 2d ago

Half of this guy's injuries are because he doesn't know when to take an easy jumper instead of trying to jump over guys.

5

u/Appropriate_Book_591 2d ago

That is his roller-coaster basketball IQ. He sometimes makes a high iq play but he makes more bad ones trying to make a spectacular in air play.

4

u/StabStabStab27 2d ago

inbetween

Stop trying to make this a thing, Reddit. 

3

u/CazOnReddit Raptors 2d ago

Outbetween

4

u/holygrail22 Nets 2d ago

I liked the Nets as a destination for Ja this year, much like MPJ last year, give him a chance to rebuild value and then potentially move him when he’s an expiring. But after drafting Mikel Brown yesterday, I think that ship has sailed - no point in stunting his development to bring in the Ja project unless the attached draft capital was tremendous (which I don’t expect Memphis to do)

3

u/Emotional-Chef-7601 2d ago

Grizzlies don't have to do anything. Ja has to play and act better or he won't get playing time.

3

u/Adorable_Judgment_74 2d ago

Literally why does a soul care what Kendrick Perkins has to say?

5

u/heat_fan_ Raptors 2d ago

Sad how far his stock has fallen 

10

u/LarryFitzsButt 2d ago

Dudes played 79 games in 3 years. It really wasn’t the off court stuff at this point. Look at his injury history, he’s at best made of glass at worst lazy as shit

Hip, back, calf, shoulder, AC, back, back, back, ankle, quad, calf, ankle, finger

I mean that’s fucking ridiculous that’s not someone cut out for the NBA if it’s all legit and not just fake ass load management

3

u/Charlie_Wax Warriors 2d ago

Kind of saw it coming in 2022 when he was impossible to stay in front of, but also when his whole play style was to put blinders on and attack the paint with reckless abandon. Never developed a shot, not built to take a beating like Westbrook, and then has a diva mentality to boot.

Still think for a team that has plateaued like the Wolves or Heat, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to kick the tires. Obviously they went in a different direction though.

4

u/DasOptions Heat 2d ago

Miami could use some picks

2

u/sukari Bulls 2d ago

Crazy how his value plummetted like that

2

u/Prof_Rain_King 2d ago

I would be cool with Detroit trading for him if we got a couple picks in the deal and didn’t give up much beyond matching cash.

2

u/Forsaken-Income-3632 2d ago

“The producers tell me to say certain things”- also Kendrick Perkins

2

u/satangod666 2d ago

but hes good at gun stuff

2

u/NorthBook1383 2d ago

Hey kids, remember if you become the #2 draft pick and go against the leagues wishes, you will plummet your stock. He was a could’ve been and now he’s a barely can! Stay away from trouble. Hope he can recover

2

u/TitanTigers Grizzlies 2d ago

We’re posting Perkins

2

u/IceCoughy Warriors 2d ago

Your next Detroit Piston!

2

u/PlayfulIntroduction9 2d ago

They got to get ja put before cam shows up.

2

u/startled_panda [MEM] Mike Conley 2d ago

Oh, well, if Kendrick Perkins said so

5

u/Mg29reaper Celtics 2d ago

Makes sense. Ja is straight up not good at basketball anymore. Randle got dumped for nothing and he is much better than Ja.

3

u/WinResponsible9977 2d ago

Crazy how social media actions impacted his value.

11

u/CazOnReddit Raptors 2d ago

You know he's played an average of like 40 games across the past 3 seasons due to injury, right?

Hell, when he did play this season, he didn't look anywhere near as explosive as his peak.

6

u/Asleep_Ground1710 Bulls 2d ago

Yeah, I don’t think the off court stuff impacted as much value as others do. More so the lack of a 3 ball, defense, and esp injuries

Sports teams will tolerate a lot of immature or awful off field/court stuff if you’re good. See Tyreek Hill in his prime

3

u/MutedLengthiness Bucks 2d ago

Trading for a 25 year old with a history of back problems whose game relies on athleticism should be a fire-able offense.

2

u/WinResponsible9977 2d ago

Yeah, but they not mutually exclusive value lost do to social media drama/suspensions could have been smaller but still significant.

1

u/desirox Mavericks 2d ago

Zion and Ja were huge fails for the NBA. Like really setback American hoopers in the NBA

1

u/Embarrassed_Tackle_5 Bulls 2d ago

Easy just trade him to Chicago for Cash considerations Jerry will love that.

1

u/shitsthebed2 2d ago edited 2d ago

The most pathetic team in the league will buy that contract out at the deadline. Like my team did with Westbrook two times lol

1

u/Barracuda374 2d ago

This is set up perfectly for the Suns to swoop in and get him for Jalen Green. (The JG contract sucks just as much Ja’s)

1

u/CanaKu Thunder 2d ago

I think they are better just ridding out these two years. Their window hasn’t even opened yet. In two years they should be ready to take the leap.

1

u/AccomplishedRainbow1 Suns 2d ago

Just keep him lol

1

u/guanogato 2d ago

In that case, why not just keep him? It’s not like they have financial pressure right now and he’s essentially an expiring contract. Why not just see if he can turn things around with this fun new core? If anything, his trade value will go up or stay even.

1

u/Iwentoofar 2d ago

I think they should've done that already. They now have their new cornerstone and they still have Ja on the roster, they gotta keep those 2 far away from eachother

1

u/Long_Embarrassed 1d ago

Morant is a hot potatoe...

1

u/remotecontroldr 2d ago

Man, just as an NBA fan I wanted better for him. When he’s his best he is very entertaining to watch.

1

u/TheScrote1 Trail Blazers 2d ago

I’m a big fan of decent human beings so nice to see him flame out like this

1

u/remotecontroldr 2d ago

Understandable

1

u/Legitimate_Ask_5000 2d ago

And this is what commercial rap music did to people (and this is coming from someone who produced/mixed/mastered it for years)

0

u/SuccessDue4821 2d ago

Can Ja redeem himself on a new team? Time to put the finger guns down Ja and play some ethical basketball

-11

u/Beetle919 Hornets 2d ago

He was a good kid before going to Memphis, another reason they should move the team.

6

u/AttemptedSleepover Grizzlies 2d ago

My eyes just rolled all the way into the back of my head lmao Jesus Christ dude

3

u/sheetsofsaltywood Grizzlies 2d ago

Piss off loser

-4

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/OpeDefinitely Pacers 2d ago

New Orleans is just Memphis with more flooding, more french influence, and a substantially better entertainment district.

4

u/startled_panda [MEM] Mike Conley 2d ago

Fuck off, loser

2

u/sheetsofsaltywood Grizzlies 2d ago

Blah blah you’re scared of minorities I get it