There’s Only One Team That Truly Makes Sense in a Ja Morant Trade
- Sam Lim
- Jan 19
- 4 min read

Why Other Teams Should Walk Away From Ja Morant
Yes, several franchises could easily top the Clippers’ proposed trade package. The real question is simpler: why would they want to?
Once you scan the league honestly, the list of logical suitors for Ja Morant shrinks fast.
Take the Miami Heat. Historically, they thrive when distressed stars hit the market. Jimmy Butler is the perfect example, arriving after chaos in Minnesota and leading Miami to Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023.
Morant is a very different case.
Even if the price were discounted, Miami’s entire identity clashes with Morant’s recent frustrations. His dissatisfaction in Memphis stemmed largely from a screen-free, pass-heavy offensive system introduced last season. That same philosophy was designed by Noah LaRoche, now a key voice on Erik Spoelstra’s coaching staff. From a culture and basketball standpoint, Morant is effectively a non-starter for the Heat.
The Toronto Raptors face a different issue. Building around Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles requires spacing and flexibility. A point guard hovering around 20 percent from deep simply doesn’t align with that vision, no matter how explosive he is with the ball.
Then there’s Brooklyn. The Nets passed on Trae Young and have little incentive to pivot toward Morant. After selecting multiple guards in the first round of the 2025 draft, Brooklyn appears committed to ball movement and shared creation, not a heliocentric scorer who dominates usage.
Across the NBA, the pattern is the same.
Why Morant Is a Hard Sell League-Wide

Every potential destination runs into a clear roadblock:
Rebuilders don’t want him setting the tone for young cores
Contenders can’t integrate him next to established stars
Spacing-focused teams can’t afford his shooting limitations
Culture-first organizations won’t gamble on availability and volatility
Add in durability concerns, declining explosiveness, suspension history, and recent signs of disengagement, and the probability of a clean success story becomes remote.
That context explains why Morant trade rumors feel louder than the actual market. For a deeper look at how teams are approaching the situation, this internal breakdown covers the landscape in detail:👉 https://www.lb9.news/post/lb9-x-nba-ja-morant-trade-rumors-possible-destinations-if-the-grizzlies-decide-to-move-on
No Better Alternatives Exist

Strip away the hypotheticals and you’re left with one uncomfortable truth.
The LA Clippers are standing alone.
On the surface, that sounds odd. They’ve won 10 of their last 12 games. James Harden is playing at an All-Star level. Kawhi Leonard still looks dominant when healthy.
But context matters.
The Clippers are the oldest roster in the league. They have no blue-chip prospects. They don’t control a first-round pick until 2030. Even at their best, they’re fighting to stay above the Play-In line, and that ceiling collapses the moment Harden or Leonard misses extended time.
Looking beyond this season, the outlook gets darker.
The Cap Space Illusion
Some will argue patience is the smarter path. The Clippers could wait for cap flexibility, especially with cleaner books projected in 2027.
In theory, that sounds reasonable. In reality, it’s outdated thinking.
This isn’t 2018. Free agency no longer produces ready-made superteams. Extensions, max contracts, and early commitments have gutted the open market. Banking on space without a star already in place is no longer a viable strategy, especially for a franchise with limited draft leverage.
Fit Doesn’t Matter Anymore

From a pure basketball perspective, Morant is a terrible fit next to Harden.
Minimal off-ball value
Defensive overlap that opponents would target relentlessly
Redundant usage in late-game situations
But here’s the uncomfortable question: why should the Clippers care?
Harden is 36. Leonard’s availability remains unpredictable. This era is effectively over, whether the organization admits it or not.
At least with Morant, there’s a conceivable pivot.
Maybe he rediscovers his form with a fresh start.
Maybe his partnership with Ivica Zubac stabilizes a playoff-caliber team.
Maybe a revived Morant becomes attractive enough to lure a second star.
None of those outcomes are likely. But they’re still easier to imagine than Harden and Leonard staying healthy and relevant deep into 2026–27.
A Risk Only the Clippers Can Absorb
Ja Morant represents risk in almost every category.
For most franchises, that’s disqualifying.
For the Clippers, it’s irrelevant.
They have no future assets to protect. No rebuild timeline to derail. No culture reset to preserve. Their downside is already priced in.
The odds of Morant reclaiming his peak and repairing his reputation are slim.
But slim odds are still odds.
And right now, they may be the only odds the Clippers have left.
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