Windhorst: Ja Morant is ‘Flagrantly Available. Like, couldn’t be more available.’
“Flagrantly available,” said Windhorst when asked about Morant on Thursday’s episode of Unsportsmanlike. “Like, couldn’t be more available.”
Morant, LaMelo Ball and Trae Young were all believed to be available on the trade market during the middle of last season. Young was traded to the Washington Wizards and re-signed on a four-year, $212 million deal and Ball was traded this week to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a significant return of future draft capital. Morant, meanwhile, continues to draw very little interest and the Grizzlies would likely be required to attach additional compensation for a team to trade for him because he has two seasons remaining on his contract.
“If Ja had one year on his contract, I think he would have been traded months ago,” said Windhorst. “Because I think that’s a reasonable risk. He is super motivated to have a big time year. But he has two years on his contract. So if you trade for him and it doesn’t work out, you’re left with an unpalatable amount of risk.
“Memphis is pivoting. They’re done with this. They’ve traded [Desmond] Bane. They’ve traded [Jaren] Jackson. They want to make Cam Boozer the centerpiece of their team. They want to build elsewhere. They are highly motivated to trade him.”