One NBA writer is proposing that the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans make a massive blockbuster trade centered around Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Grizzlies and Pelicans:
The Trade: Grizzlies trade Ja Morant to the Pelicans for Zion Williamson, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick (via MIL)
“To be clear, it’s hard to envision a Morant trade even in the hypothetical realm,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “While Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane have authored their own ascensions, the 2019 No. 2 overall pick is the face of the franchise in Memphis. Arguably, he has ascended to superstardom already. And if he can stay on the court, he could maintain his elite status for the better part of a decade.
“But if a Morant mega-deal ever went down, this incoming package feels about right from a value perspective. Williamson, 23, has even greater availability issues, but his ceiling might stretch even higher than the Grizzlies star’s. That potential, plus the two future firsts, might be too much for Memphis to pass up.”
Morant signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Grizzlies in July 2022. He averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists last season while shooting 46.6% from the field, 30.7% from beyond the arc and 74.8% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
Morant has been suspended by the NBA for the first 25 games of next season for showing a gun on an IG Live video for a second time. He was suspended for eight games in March after the first incident.
“The Pelicans mulled the idea of moving Williamson this offseason, suggesting they’re at or near their breaking point with his mounting pile of games missed,” Buckley wrote in the same NBA trade column. “Turning the 23-year-old and a few future firsts into Morant—upcoming suspension and all—would grant New Orleans the kind of stability its lacked since Williamson first arrived as the top pick in 2019. Morant, the No. 2 pick in that same draft, could be an electric addition to this roster and perhaps pull it all together with his wide-ranging point guard skills. He’d put some more pep in the Pelicans’ step. And when he wasn’t leading the scoring charge, he’d be spreading the ball between all of the point-producers around him.”
There have been several questions about Williamson’s diet and commitment to basketball since he’s only played 114 out of a possible 308 regular-season games since being drafted by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. Williamson played in 24 games in his rookie year and 61 games in his sophomore year. The lefty then missed his entire third year and appeared in just 29 games last season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
The Pelicans were interested in trading up in the 2023 NBA Draft to select Scoot Henderson. There were rumors about New Orleans trading Williamson to the Portland Trail Blazers, who drafted Henderson. However, no deal was made. Williamson signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Pelicans in July 2022.
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