Miami Heat Interested in Grizzlies' Ja Morant, But Only at a Bargain Price

NBA insider reveals Heat will only trade for Morant if the deal is similar to the Wizards' acquisition of Trae Young.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:47pm

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According to an NBA insider, the Miami Heat have expressed interest in acquiring Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant via trade. However, the Heat are only willing to strike a deal if they can get Morant at a bargain price, similar to the contract the Washington Wizards received when they traded for Trae Young. Morant's current contract has three years and $126.4 million remaining, which is more than the Heat is comfortable committing to without a significant discount.

Why it matters

Morant has emerged as one of the NBA's brightest young stars, but his recent injury history and off-court issues have made some teams hesitant to take on his long-term, high-priced contract. The Heat are known for their savvy roster management and are unlikely to overpay for Morant, even if it means missing out on acquiring the talented guard.

The details

The Heat are interested in Morant, but only if they can get him in a 'bargain deal' similar to the one the Wizards received when they traded for Trae Young. Young has two years and $95.3 million remaining on his contract, with a player option for the second year. In contrast, Morant has three years and $126.4 million left on his deal, which the Heat view as too much of a long-term commitment without a significant discount.

  • Morant has been made available for trade by the Grizzlies earlier this season.

The players

Ja Morant

A star guard for the Memphis Grizzlies who has expressed interest in playing for the Miami Heat.

Trae Young

A guard for the Washington Wizards, whose contract situation the Heat are using as a benchmark for a potential Morant trade.

Jake Fischer

An NBA insider who reported on the Heat's interest in Morant and their desire for a 'bargain deal.'

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What they’re saying

“The Miami Heat are interested in Ja Morant, but only on what they would consider a bargain deal. Something very equivalent to what the Washington Wizards paid for Trae Young.”

— Jake Fischer, NBA Insider (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

If Morant's value decreases over time, the Heat may revisit a potential trade for the star guard this summer.

The takeaway

The Heat's savvy approach to roster management means they are unlikely to overpay for Morant, even if it means missing out on acquiring one of the NBA's brightest young talents. The team's focus on finding a 'bargain deal' highlights their commitment to building a contender without sacrificing long-term financial flexibility.