Last month, NBA insider Shams Charania had predicted that this offseason is going to be ‘most craziest ever’. Looks like the Memphis Grizzlies kicked that in with a blockbuster trade by sending Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. In typical NBA fashion, once one major star is moved, the question that immediately follows is: What’s next?
Former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Jay Williams believes the Grizzlies should consider trading Ja Morant, their franchise cornerstone.
Jay Williams Charts Reasons Beyond Trade Value for Moving Ja Morant
Appearing on ESPN’s “Get Up”, Williams didn’t mince words when discussing what Memphis’ front office should do next.
“If I were [Grizzlies GM] Zach Kleiman in Memphis, I would highly, highly, highly consider it. Number one, I saw Desmond Bane get traded for five first-round picks. I wonder what the value for Ja Morant could be?”
“I saw Desmond Bane get traded for five first-round picks. I wonder what the value for Ja Morant could be.”@RealJayWIlliams believes the Grizzlies should “highly, highly, highly consider” trading Ja Morant pic.twitter.com/pDMBcWVgKT
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 16, 2025
He went on to say, “Number two, availability is a skill, he’s missed 126 games in three seasons — [due to] injuries, suspensions, off-the-court issues.”
Williams also noted Morant’s off-court issues and lack of maturity, which have plagued the Grizzlies the past few seasons. The young NBA star has faced multiple suspensions and fines for posting videos involving firearms and for celebratory on-court gestures mimicking gunfire.
Despite averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game on 45.4% shooting from the field last season, Morant’s performance was viewed as a down year for the two-time NBA All-Star.
The ESPN analyst finalizes his points by saying, “The best way to build a culture is not based upon unpredictability.”
In 2022, Morant signed a five-year $193 million extension with the Grizzlies. The deal includes $193 million of guaranteed money, increasing to $231 million contingent upon his selection to an All-NBA team. But the key detail in this contract is that Morant is due a 15% trade kicker if he is moved.
Memphis-Orlando Trade Surprises NBA World
The departure of Bane indeed points to a possible direction change for the Grizzlies. Following the in-season dismissal of longtime head coach Taylor Jenkins, Memphis reached the playoffs with a 48-34 record, but failed to win a game against the eventual West Champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
In exchange for Bane, Memphis received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and a haul of draft capital from Orlando. If that’s what Bane commanded, imagine the return for a former Most Improved Player, All-NBA selection, and elite talent still just 25 years old, in Morant.
Even Kendrick Perkins was shocked by the amount of draft picks in the Bane deal, echoing the sentiment of many around NBA social media who believed the Magic were “fleeced.”
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Moreover, many Magic fans were sad about losing Anthony. He was selected in 2020 with the 15th pick. Since then, he has had a positive presence. Anthony averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He stepped up tremendously during Magic’s run in the play-in tournament, securing a spot in the playoffs. However, his production had reduced over the last three seasons.
But with all this, Charania’s ‘Craziest’ prediction gains more momentum. After all, it is the season that saw the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade, which shook the NBA like an earthquake in February. The NBA world will surely wait to see if the Grizzlies really get rid of Morant, which would be another surprising move of trading a franchise cornerstone.
