When folks wrote off the Miami Heat before the 2025-26 NBA season even started, they typically cited the franchise's lack of a superstar as their rationale. And while Miami would clearly prefer to fill this void, it hasn't often done these type of deals without some kind of a discount.
That's why the Heat should be keeping close tabs on whatever is happening between two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant was suspended by the team for one game, citing "conduct detrimental to the team." ESPN's Shams Charania reported the suspension came after Grizzlies coach Tyomas Iisalo challenging Morant's "leadership and effort" during Friday's loss, and Morant "responded in a tone deemed inappropriate and dismissive."
Maybe this behavior, when coupled with Morant's availability issues, would scare off other suitors, but it feels like the kind of thing that'll get Heat president Pat Riley's distressed-star senses tingling. The Grizzlies, of course, don't have to trade Morant, but if they tested his market, they might be disappointed at what they'd find.
League-wide interest in Morant appears muted, making this the perfect time for Miami to make a lowball offer.
If the Heat can get Ja Morant at a discount, they'd have to do the deal.
Miami might be riding high(ish) early on thanks to its new free-flowing offense, but this franchise isn't in the position to rule out star pursuits of any kind. Particularly if they involve the kind of top-shelf lead guards that would answer a lot of questions about this club's capacity to create something out of nothing.
Now, to be clear, Morant's star is shining especially bright at the moment. Setting the suspension aside, he's been nowhere near his normal standards so far. His 20.8 points are his fewest since his sophomore season, his 6.7 assists match the worst average of his career, and his 40.6 field-goal percentage is easily the lowest it's ever been.
On a very related note, though, his season is all of six games old. Writing off anyone for such a small sample size would be bad basketball business, let alone a 26-year-old who has showcased some of the most dynamic ability in recent memory.
Have his injury issues simply sapped him of all his superhuman explosion? Or is he simply at a point where only a scenery change could get him back on track?
The Heat should at least find out how much it would cost in a trade to see if it's the latter. If he bounced back in South Beach, he'd be far from the first successful reclamation effort orchestrated by this organization.
Now, Miami would need a discount to account for the lingering questions about Morant, but you'd think the apparent cricket chirps on the trade market would take care of that. It'd be a dramatic move for Memphis to make, obviously, but this franchise did indicate at least some focus on the future with this offseason's Desmond Bane blockbuster, and it hasn't exactly indicated an ability to swiftly climb the ladder in the fully loaded West.
If the Grizzlies are open to resetting their roster around Jaren Jackson Jr. (or going even further with a youth movement), the Heat should help make that happen. A resurgent Morant would be the kind of offensive force Miami finds itself without. And it's also the kind of player who could, if everything breaks right, help this club capitalize on a down year in the Eastern Conference.