Ja Morant has ‘negative value’ in damning NBA trade deadline reality

Ja Morant is currently “untradable.”

That’s per ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, who was asked Friday morning on “Get Up” about the Grizzlies guard, who wasn’t traded before the NBA’s 3 p.m. deadline Thursday.

Morant had been a topic of trade talks for weeks leading up to the deadline, with Memphis reportedly asking for a first-round pick and a younger player in return.

Windhorst was blunt. He said between his suspensions, injuries and issues with coaches, Morant’s value has tanked.

“When I say he has no value, I don’t even think that’s accurate. I think he has what they call in the league, ‘negative value,’” Windhorst said.

“Meaning teams weren’t willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also added draft compensation.”

This season, Morant has played just 20 of the Grizzlies’ 49 games, missing matchups due to a left elbow strain that has held him out since January 21.

He also played just nine games in the 2023-24 season due to a 25-game league suspension and shoulder surgery.

On the court, Windhorst acknowledged that Morant has been playing better as of late. But throughout most of the season, he hasn’t been playing to his strength — attacking the paint.

As a result, he’s averaging his lowest points per game (19.5) since his sophomore season in the 2020-21 campaign. He’s also shooting a career-low 41.0% overall and 23.5% from 3.

Ja Morant has missed 29 games this season due to injury and a one-game suspension. NBAE via Getty Images

“He is at his best when he gets into that paint. He’s never done it less. He’s taken more jump shots, and he’s never been worse at those jump shots,” Winshorst said. 

Another factor contributing to Morant’s “negative value,” according to Windhorst, is his contract. He’s in the third year of a five-year, $197 million contract that extends through the 2027-28 season.

Windhorst added he still has two years and $87 million left on the deal, something no team wants to take on right now, especially with his off the court issues.

“If he had one year on his contract, I think there would be some teams that would say, ‘We’re gonna do a buy low here,’” Windhorst said. “The two years on his contract has literally made his situation toxic.”

Ja Morant is failing to average over 20 points per game for only the third time in his career. AP

As a result of Morant’s struggles and missed games this season, the Grizzlies sit at 20-29, two games behind the Portland Trailblazers for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot entering Friday’s slate.

Windhorst mentioned Morant’s path to success is to play “excellent” once he returns from injury in the next few weeks. Only then will he potentially gain some trade value, giving the Grizzlies the chance to shop him around.

Currently, though, he’s done so much wrong that he’s stuck in Memphis.

“I know this is a stunning thing for the Ja Morant fans out there. It’s a stunning thing when I talk to his fellow NBA players about it because they know how talented he is,” Windhorst said.