The possibility of Ja Morant changing teams this offseason gained further traction Thursday when veteran NBA insider Sam Amick identified the New Orleans Pelicans as his most likely landing spot for the former All-Star guard.
Speaking on Run It Back on June 18, Amick said he expects Morant to be traded to New Orleans, while also mentioning the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves as potential destinations. The comments arrive amid increasing speculation that the Memphis Grizzlies are preparing to move on from the 26-year-old franchise cornerstone.
Morant is entering the fourth season of the five-year, $197 million contract extension he signed in 2022. While no trade discussions have been publicly confirmed, recent reporting has pointed toward a growing likelihood that Memphis will explore the market during the offseason.
Earlier this month, Evan Sidery reported that the Grizzlies are expected to examine Morant trade scenarios within the next month. According to Sidery, the relationship between Morant and the organization has not been fully repaired, with Memphis potentially considering a broader rebuild rather than another attempt to contend around its remaining core.
The Grizzlies have already undergone significant roster changes over the past two years. Desmond Bane was traded to Orlando in 2025, while Jaren Jackson Jr. was dealt to Utah in February 2026. Those moves left Morant as the last remaining centerpiece from the group that helped Memphis emerge as a Western Conference contender earlier in the decade.
The results on the court reflected the transition. Memphis finished the 2025-26 season with a 25-57 record, the third-worst mark in the Western Conference and ahead of only the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies closed the year on an eight-game losing streak and missed the postseason.
Morant appeared in just 20 games but remained productive when available. He averaged 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per game. His shooting efficiency declined, however, as he connected on 41.0% of his field-goal attempts and 23.5% from three-point range. One bright spot was his free-throw shooting, where he converted 89.7% of his attempts.
A move to New Orleans would pair Morant with a talented offensive nucleus that already includes Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and 2025 lottery pick Jeremiah Fears. Despite having multiple high-level scorers, the Pelicans struggled throughout the season, finishing 26-56 and 11th in the Western Conference. Murphy led the club with 21.5 points per game, while Williamson averaged 21.0 points on an efficient 60.0% shooting from the field.
The Kings and Timberwolves present different competitive timelines. Minnesota reached the Western Conference semifinals before losing to the eventual conference champion San Antonio Spurs, while Sacramento finished 22-60 and is searching for a path back to playoff relevance.
