With the trade deadline approaching, the New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as a potential landing spot for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, according to HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto.
The Pelicans are the latest team to show interest in Ja Morant, per @MikeAScotto
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 16, 2026
“Despite the production dip, several teams have registered interest in trading for Morant recently, including the Heat, Bucks, Kings, Raptors, and Pelicans, league sources told HoopsHype. Within… pic.twitter.com/NRAtecOVeV
This is a very interesting wrinkle and would fit previous reports that President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars wants to keep the team core intact past the deadline. Morant was picked just one pick later than Pelicans star Zion Williamson in the 2019 NBA draft, so pairing these two together could be a very intriguing tandem. It becomes even more intriguing when looking at the rumored asking price for the former two-time All-Star.
What would've once been a hefty asking price has shrunk due to a combination of off-court issues, problems with Memphis' coaching staff, injuries, and poor play. Morant is posting career lows in field goal and three-point percentages and is scoring just 19.0 points per game, which is his lowest average since his rookie season.
According to Marc Stein's reports, the asking price for Morant is a first-round pick and a young player, which would be easily attainable for the Pelicans.
Is trading for Morant worth the gamble?
I still find myself in favor of the Pelicans blowing things up and going full rebuild mode around Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen. But getting a player who averaged 25 or more points per game three times in the first five years of his career for the reported low asking price could be worth the gamble.
Sure, Morant has had character issues throughout his NBA career, but it's not hard to convince yourself that a change of scenery and teaming up with a friend in Zion Williamson could change that.
The mock trade I came up with sees the Pelicans offer Yves Missi, who is already in trade rumors, and checks the "young player" box on the Grizzlies' list of demands. With a protected future first-round pick, checking the "first-round pick" box. And then including both Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney to match salaries.
Obviously, trading for Morant is unlikely to change the Pelicans' season trajectory, as they sit 8.5 games back of a play-in spot. But it would be more of a play for next season. As they could use the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign to build chemistry to carry it into 2026-27, and be ready to compete for a playoff spot from day one.
While it’s uncertain whether the Pelicans will pull the trigger, acquiring Morant at a low cost wouldn’t be a bad move for Dumars. It would also make sense that, early on, he preached that he wanted to build a team fans could get behind and that would be competitive. Acquiring Morant could help accomplish that goal.