ESPN’s Tim Bontemps recently stated that he doesn’t believe the Miami Heat or Milwaukee Bucks will be trading for Ja Morant during an appearance on the Hoops Collective podcast. Those comments have swung the door wide open for the New Orleans Pelicans to make a move for the multi-time All-Star.
At one point, Miami was viewed as the landing spot for Morant. With the Heat in need of a true star and his value perceived to be low, it made sense. For the Bucks, getting Morant would’ve been a way to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay. But now with these two big suitors stepping back, what’s stopping Joe Dumars and the Pelicans from trading for Morant?
A risk worth taking
When you’re a small-market team or a non-ideal free-agent destination, the best way to build your team is through the draft, and when you are limited on draft picks, the next best option is via trades. In the Pelicans' case, they are more of the latter than the former, as the Atlanta Hawks own the Pelicans’ 2026 first-round pick.
We just saw the Toronto Raptors last season take advantage of a buy-low opportunity with the Pelicans in trading expiring salary and a protected pick for Brandon Ingram. Look how that’s paid off for them: after being the 11th seed last season, they are now fourth in the East.
Sure, the asking price may be a little higher for Morant than Ingram, but at the same time, they are also different realms of players. At his peak, Morant was arguably a top-ten player in the league during his second and third seasons in the league. He’s the type of guy who, when fully bought in, can help a franchise do a full 180, which is something the Pelicans desperately need with a 10-35 record.
That top-ten player version of Morant we also just saw during his return Sunday afternoon. He carried Memphis to a 17-point blowout win in London over Orlando, had 24 points, five rebounds, 13 assists, banged three of his four 3s, and finished the game with a 65.4 effective field goal percentage.
Sure, for a while, trading for Morant seemed like a major risk, but after the performance he just had during the Grizzlies game against the Magic, I’m fully bought in. With two major suitors appearing to fall out of the running, it feels like a sign from the Basketball Gods that the time is now for the Pelicans to pull the trigger on a deal for Morant.