With three weeks until the NBA trade deadline, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on Grizzlies stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr, Mavericks stars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, and Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. 

Ja Morant’s trade market 

The Memphis Grizzlies are seriously listening to trade offers for 26-year-old, two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant for the first time in his tenure with the franchise. 

Off the court, Morant was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team this season, which included one of several disagreements with head coach Tuomas Iisalo. Overall, this marked Morant’s third suspension overall, including two previously in 2023 involving firearms. 

On the hardwood, Morant’s drives (15.39) are at a career-low rate and have nosedived over the past two seasons, while also shooting a career-low 40.1 percent from the field and 20.8 percent beyond the arc, with a negative 7.4 net rating this season for the Grizzlies. NBA scouts for several teams who’ve seen Morant play have noted his effort and joy have been lackluster this season. 

Despite the production dip, several teams have registered interest in trading for Morant recently, including the Heat, Bucks, Kings, Raptors, and Pelicans, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Within league circles, there have been rumblings that Morant’s desire for months has been to land with the Miami Heat. 

Should Miami ultimately acquire Morant, Terry Rozier’s expiring $26.64 million contract will almost assuredly be a part of any trade package. Italian reserve forward Simone Fontecchio could also appeal as a career 36.3 percent 3-point shooter on an expiring $8.31 million contract. 

As previously reported by HoopsHype in mid December, Miami has gauged the trade market across the league on forward Andrew Wiggins, who’s shooting a career-high 40.2 percent beyond the arc and also averaging 15.8 points. With Wiggins having a $30.17 million player option for next season, it’s unclear whether Memphis has the appetite to acquire the 30-year-old forward.

Davion Mitchell, 27, remains a strong on-ball defender and has averaged a career-high 7.3 assists as Miami’s starting point guard this season. Mitchell appeals to teams around the league and is under team control next season at $12.4 million.

Kel’el Ware has drawn interest from around the league due to his double-double production at just 21 years old and the 7-footer’s ability to stretch the floor efficiently at 41.9 percent beyond the arc. However, Miami and other teams around the league are monitoring the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Heat could try to hold onto Ware in a potentially bigger trade package for the Greek superstar. 

Rival NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe the Heat’s dream scenario is acquiring Antetokounmpo if he becomes available over the summer, when they have more draft capital to include in a trade offer. 

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks have canvassed the trade market in search of talent upgrades around Antetokounmpo, including the possibility of acquiring Morant. In trade discussions for Morant, the Grizzlies have desired Milwaukee’s 2031 or 2032 first-round pick and Most Improved Player of the Year candidate Ryan Rollins, league sources told HoopsHype. The Bucks, meanwhile, have gauged the trade value of forwards Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis on the market across the league, sources said. Both players could be included in a Morant trade to make the salary requirements work under CBA rules, but would leave Milwaukee thin in the frontcourt. 

Portis and another unidentified minimum-salary player have also come up in talks with the Sacramento Kings in exploratory conversations involving Keon Ellis and Malik Monk, league sources told HoopsHype. Milwaukee has eyed scoring help, which Monk could theoretically provide, and Ellis has been on their radar as well.   

Monk is owed $20.19 million next season and has a $21.58 million player option for the 2027-28 season. Ellis will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but if he’s acquired via trade before the deadline, his Bird Rights would transfer to the team acquiring him. Portis, conversely, is cheaper at $14.52 million next season and has a $15.60 million player option for the 2027-28 season. 

Meanwhile, the Kings have inquired about the price tag for Morant, but internal questions about whether the franchise is ready to give up assets and add him while focusing on developing their young talent (Keegan Murray, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud) and gauging the market on potentially moving their veteran trio of Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan. 

In fact, the Kings had exploratory conversations on a trade involving DeRozan and Ellis for Clippers forward John Collins and another small salary filler before the Clippers won 11 of their past 13 games, league sources told HoopsHype. 

In addition, the Toronto Raptors have called the Grizzlies about Morant. As previously reported by HoopsHype, Toronto also checked in on LaMelo Ball over the offseason. Amid looking for a point guard upgrade, the Raptors have gauged the trade market on starting guard Immanuel Quickley. 

Somewhat surprisingly, the New Orleans Pelicans have inquired about Memphis’ asking price for Morant in a potential buy-low scenario, league sources told HoopsHype. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have been telling rival NBA teams that rookie starting point guard Jeremiah Fears and rookie center Derik Queen are untouchable in trade talks. 

Earlier this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves also conducted due diligence and called Memphis regarding Morant’s availability, but that interest has subsided since. Conversely, Minnesota has Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton – who’s on an expiring $18.98 million contract – among its potential trade targets, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Lastly, some around the league wondered if the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets would also consider trading for Morant, but both scenarios have been deemed unlikely, according to league sources. 

The future of Jaren Jackson Jr.

Amid Ja Morant trade talks, Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a player the Memphis Grizzlies want to build with, according to an ESPN report. However, that stance hasn’t stopped various teams across the league from registering interest in Jackson Jr, including the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, league sources told HoopsHype. 

With the possibility of Morant being traded before the deadline and a potentially prolonged injury recovery for starting center Zach Edey, Memphis could focus on developing its young talent, such as Cedric Coward, Cam Spencer, and Jaylen Wells, while potentially landing another high lottery pick in the process this season. 

Looking ahead, Jackson Jr. is owed a combined $205 million over the next four seasons, including a player option for the 2029-30 season. Having an All-Star candidate and an All-Defensive caliber player under team control through his prime will appeal to many teams around the league. 

If Morant is indeed traded before the deadline, expect more teams to call on Jackson Jr. more intensely. 

What’s next for the Mavericks stars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving?

With 10-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis having only played in 29 combined games for the Dallas Mavericks since being acquired in the Luka Doncic trade, owed a combined $121.24 million, including his player option for the 2027-28 season, and also seeking a contract extension while approaching 33 in March, there was a narrowed trade market to begin with, which notably included the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors. 

Following Davis’ latest hand injury, which the Mavericks announced won’t require surgery and is expected to heal in approximately six weeks, several NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype predict he’ll remain in Dallas past the trade deadline due to his decreased trade value, unless the Mavericks essentially want to salary dump him. 

The Atlanta Hawks have remained resistant to including the Pelicans’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick and former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher in trade conversations for Davis, as previously reported by HoopsHype. While Atlanta could still consider trading the expiring contracts of Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard, the Hawks aren’t in a rush to make a deal happen with Davis hurt again, HoopsHype has learned. 

Toronto has gauged the trade market on several players, including guard Immanuel Quickley as noted above, swingman RJ Barrett, and center Jakob Poeltl, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Quickley, who has bounced back from an injury-marred 2024-25 season, is owed a hefty $97.5 million combined for the following three seasons. Poeltl, who is beloved within the organization but has dealt with ongoing back issues this season, is owed a combined $103.58 million over the next four seasons. However, $81.28 million of that figure is guaranteed, while the rest is contingent on incentives for minutes played, etc. Barrett, who’s remained relatively consistent despite concerns about how he’d fit with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, is owed $29.62 million next season. 

Simultaneously, Toronto has gauged the trade market with Ochai Agbaji in an attempt to duck the luxury tax, as previously reported by HoopsHype. 

Thus, would Toronto be willing to part with multiple starters for Davis, who’s going to miss a minimum of six weeks while competing for a playoff spot in the East, while currently in fourth place and just a game out of second seed?

Looking ahead towards the trade deadline, Dallas can attempt to salary dump Davis now, keep him and look to make a trade in the offseason, or keep and play him with the eventual return of Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg in his second season, and an expected lottery pick. 

​​The reality for Dallas is that whatever direction they choose with Davis, he’s a sunk cost and will never undo the scrutiny from Nico Harrison’s trade of Doncic to the Lakers. The question is whether clearing their salary books is more advantageous, trying to extract more value down the line and hope he stays healthy, or trying to bridge two different timelines with him and Irving, along with Flagg and another young talent in this draft. 

Meanwhile, although some have speculated whether or not Irving will return from a torn ACL this season, there’s no logical urgency for the Mavericks to bring him back at all this season while the franchise has control of its 2026 first-round pick and the team is on the outside of the Play-In Tournament and only 1.5 games out of the league’s sixth-worst record in the tankathon standings. In 2027, for those wondering, if Dallas’ pick lands in the 3-30 range, it belongs to the Charlotte Hornets.

Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones updates

Despite several injuries to Denver’s starting lineup at various points this season, including Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson, Nuggets forward Peyton Watson has been a silver lining, seized his opportunity, and had a breakout season, averaging 13.8 points on an efficient 51.1 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from beyond the arc with 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. 

Watson has drawn significant interest on the trade market, but the Nuggets have rebuffed trade calls on the 23-year-old swingman and want to re-sign him in restricted free agency this summer, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Similar to Watson, Nuggets two-way forward Spencer Jones has made the most of his opportunities while becoming a key rotation player and a fill-in starter this season. The 24-year-old 3-and-D forward has shot well from the field (.510) and beyond the arc (.389). As a result, Jones will eventually have his contract converted to a standard NBA deal, league sources told HoopsHype. 

With Denver projected only $402,000 above the luxury tax line, expect the Nuggets to make a small trade to duck below the tax and give themselves breathing room for the conversion of Jones. 

Furthermore, the Nuggets are expected to monitor the trade and buyout market in case a notable veteran backup point guard upgrade becomes available, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Keep in mind, the Nuggets have two traded player exceptions that expire in July: $6.88 million from the Michael Porter Jr. trade and $5.43 million from the Dario Saric trade.  

Jonathan Kuminga trade talks

The relationship between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors appears headed for the split many around the league have expected for over a year. 

The Sacramento Kings have shown the most consistent interest in acquiring Kuminga, league sources told HoopsHype. Over the summer, Sacramento was considering including a protected first-round draft pick along with Malik Monk in sign-and-trade discussions for Kuminga, sources said. However, the Kings are now unwilling to part with a first-round pick and would likely need a third team to ultimately acquire Kuminga, with the Warriors remaining uninterested in acquiring Monk and preferring expiring contracts, HoopsHype has learned. 

The Chicago Bulls, who’ve previously been linked to Kuminga, have plenty of expiring contracts to use in a potential trade offer, but what draft compensation would they be willing to give up, and whether they’re still as interested as before remains uncertain.   

Elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers have also been linked with trade interest in Kuminga, league sources told HoopsHype. Conversely, previous interest from the Miami Heat has seemingly lessened. While the Wizards were also loosely linked to Kuminga, they’re unlikely to make a significant pursuit, HoopsHype has learned.   

The 23-year-old forward has a $24.3 million team option for next season, which appeals to teams interested, given its flexibility to exercise or decline and come to the table on a new deal. 

Along with Kuminga, Buddy Hield is also a trade candidate to monitor as he’s fallen out of the rotation and could be paired with Kuminga to get a player in the $30 million range or so. Adding a player, such as Moses Moody, for example, would allow Golden State to potentially acquire a player in the $40 million range.  

With that in mind, it’s worth noting the Warriors have had internal dialogue regarding Brooklyn Nets All-Star candidate Michael Porter Jr, league sources told HoopsHype. However, as reported on YES Network, the Brooklyn Nets want to take a step forward next season, and Porter Jr. could be a part of that. 

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Blue Sky (@MikeAScotto).

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Peyton Watson, Jonathan Kuminga