The NBA trade market is always a game of high-stakes poker, and lately, the cards have been flying between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies. My sources tell me that the Pelicans have been aggressive in their pursuit of Ja Morant, looking to bring that Memphis grit down to the Big Easy.
But as the saying goes, the devil is in the details—and in this case, the devil was a draft pick.
The Big Offer: Poole and Murray
From what I’m hearing, the Pelicans put a heavy-hitting offer on the table. They were ready to move Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray in exchange for Ja Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
It’s a massive “swing for the fences” move. Adding Ja to a lineup with Zion Williamson would instantly make the Pels the most “Must-See TV” team in the league. But the Pelicans didn’t stop there; they floated several other packages to see if Memphis would bite on depth and veteran presence.
Other deals the Pels tried to facilitate included:
- Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney for Ja.
- Jordan Poole, Jordan Hawkins, and DeAndre Jordan for Ja.
The Draft Capital Deadlock
Despite the talent New Orleans was willing to send out, Memphis wasn’t moving off their valuation of Morant. When you’re talking about a transcendent talent like Ja, a “player-for-player” swap rarely cuts it.
The Scoop: Memphis wanted a first-rounder attached to any deal—even if it was protected. They wanted that insurance policy for the future.
The Pelicans, however, held their ground. New Orleans was unwilling to add any draft capital to these packages. They felt the players being offered were enough to balance the scales. When Memphis demanded that first-round pick, the Pels ultimately said “no.”
The Bottom Line
New Orleans clearly wants to upgrade their backcourt and add that superstar spark, but they are playing it smart with their assets. They were willing to shuffle the roster, but they weren’t willing to mortgage the future.
For now, Ja stays in Grind City. But in this league, “no” often just means “not right now.” I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground to see if the Pelicans’ stance on those picks softens as the season progresses.
