Sources: The Miami Heat have quickly emerged as an attractive option for Ja Morant and his team

With the Memphis Grizzlies scheduled to play two games in Germany and England this week, point guard Ja Morant plans to meet with key members of his camp in Europe in response to recent trade rumors, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Last Friday, the Grizzlies reportedly made Morant available in trade talks. The reported decision deeply disappointed Morant and his team, according to a well-informed source close to the situation. The 26-year-old, who has been deeply invested in the city of Memphis and its fan base, has not asked for a trade, sources say, but is essentially backed into a corner with the trade deadline less than a month away.

Announcement

“Live with it,” Morant bluntly told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday of his reaction to news of his potential departure.

Morant, along with his business team, led by Phil Morant, Ja’s uncle, who handles most of his day-to-day business, will discuss important next steps for the seventh-year pro.

While the collective consensus is that Morant’s value is the lowest it’s ever been — a combination of the diluted point guard market, his history of injuries and suspensions, and his offensive decline — his team is determined to find the best fit through due diligence.

There are teams with varying levels of interest in Morant – Minnesota, Sacramento and Milwaukee to name a few – but Miami has quickly emerged as an attractive option for Morant and his group in recent days, sources say.

Announcement

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The Heat have historically been considered one of the most structured and detail-oriented organizations in the NBA, an important aspect of development that appeals to Morant, who has missed 34 games due to various suspensions. Morant also has deep respect for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who also manages Team USA; Morant wants to represent his country at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Miami’s veteran presence is an added strength and something Morant craves.

Additionally, Morant, with three years and $125 million remaining on his current contract, hopes to get a max extension by next summer, sources say.

Meanwhile, Morant is aiming to return to 100% after missing time with a calf injury.

Announcement

“We are not in the business of commenting on random news on the Internet,” coach Tuomas Iisalo told reporters in Germany on Tuesday. “He’s progressing in practice. He’s already able to do a lot of parts of practice, so he looks in good shape to progress (toward the game).”

Morant, who last played Jan. 2 in Los Angeles, appeared in just 18 games this season, averaging 19 points (his lowest since his rookie season) and 7.6 assists per game while posting career lows in 3-point shooting and effective field goal percentage.

While in Europe, Morant also plans to spend time with the Levallois Metropolitans, a third-division French basketball team in which Morant acquired a significant ownership stake through his media and investment company Catch12 last month.

Memphis, which has lost six of its last eight games, sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 17-22 record.