The Miami Heat may be deep in their pursuit of Kevin Durant, but there may be another superstar trade target that would make much more sense for the team. Ja Morant. If he were suddenly available on the trade block this offseason, he’s a player that would represent the perfect complementary star player next to Bam Adebayo.
According to Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, there have been whispers that have linked Morant and the Heat in the past, as most recent as this past year’s NBA Trade Deadline. However, it’s hard to tell if they led to anything more than that. Interestingly enough, as the Memphis Grizzlies face a fork in the road of their build, you can’t help but wonder if Miami could make another call.This time around, perhaps the key would be to make an offer that the Grizzlies may not be willing to reject.
What a godfather offer for Ja Morant may look like
What that exactly would be is difficult to predict. However, you’d imagine it could look something like Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, and three first-round picks. Miami could throw in some pick swaps if they wanted. At least from the Heat’s perspective, that’s a pretty solid offer. Would Memphis want to take on Herro, considering he’s due for a new contract after next season? That’s difficult to answer.
However, they could theoretically rope in a third team to take on Herro if they wanted and fully embrace a rebuild by adding another future first-round pick or two to the mix. Ultimately, this would come down to whether the Grizzlies are at a point where they want to rebuild their roster. If the answer is yes, and the whispers are accurate that Morant wants to be in Miami, maybe there’s a deal that could make sense for both sides
On the basketball floor, the fit between Morant and Bam is clear. Bam has never played with a playmaking guard as dynamic as Morant, and this addition gives the Heat an alpha ball-dominant guard that they’ve been missing since Dwyane Wade retired.
If the Grizzlies are even picking up their phone to listen to trade inquiries, there’s a chance that the Heat should pivot away from their current pursuit of KD and explore whether there’s a pathway toward prying Morant out of Memphis. This is the type of move that would make so much more sense for the Heat heading into the future.
It’s probably not likely, especially if the Grizzlies aren’t willing to explore that level of teardown this offseason, but it could be something to keep a close eye on as we get deeper into the summer. KD may be the blockbuster name, but Morant could be the perfect fit
