According to ESPN’s Shams Charaniathe Memphis Grizzlies are nice offers for star point guard Ja Morant. With that news, the Minnesota Timberwolves should be on the phone now. It’s not a perfect fit, but Minnesota’s defensive infrastructure could be a perfect fit to accommodate Morant.
Placing Morant alongside Edwards in the backcourt would be a very nice combination, and his offensive organization could be exactly what the Wolves need at the point guard spot. They need a boost at that position, and Morant could be that (and then some). That said, a trade would be somewhat difficult to concoct.
But what would it look like?
Wolves should consider a trade for Ja Morant
Well, Charania noted that the Grizzlies would like to get draft capital and young players back in a potential Morant trade. Or at least, that will be their priority.
Although the Wolves have no tons of draft capital to throw at the Grizzlies, they do have some alternate routes they could take in a potential trade.
Obviously, bringing in young players wouldn’t be too much of an issue, as guys like Rob Dillingham, Joan Beringer or Jaylen Clark could fill that void. However, by bringing a third team into the mix, they can also add draft capital.
Minnesota would have to trade at least one of Naz Reid, Julius Randle or Jalen McDaniels in a deal. Of those guys, Reid probably has the most trade value unless a team doesn’t want to take on his contract.
One idea could be to tie the Golden State Warriors to a trade. They could send Jonathan Kuminga and a first (or a few seconds) to the Grizzlies, who would also receive Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham and another minimum salary pick from Minnesota.
The Wolves would send Reid to the Warriors, send capital to the Grizzlies, and Morant would go to Minnesota.
Even if the Warriors aren’t the third team, such a deal would make sense, especially if the Grizzlies aren’t interested in Reid’s long-term salary.
Obviously trading Reid, Conley, Dillingham, another salary and picks is a big deal. Especially considering all the injury issues Morant has dealt with.
But the benefit of adding Morant to the Wolves roster could be worth the risk.
Maybe the Wolves would prefer to find a way to trade Randle, but he does so much for them that a Morant deal would likely require them to just bite the bullet and trade Reid.
The combination of Morant’s talent and the defensive fit of the Wolves roster is simply too good for Minnesota to pass up.
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