{"id":197650,"date":"2026-05-27T10:35:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=197650"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:35:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:35:20","slug":"ja-morant-trade-mem-min","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/27\/ja-morant-trade-mem-min\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Timberwolves Must Reject Temptation of a Ja Morant Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every NBA offseason fuels wild speculation and bold trade ideas. Imagine putting<\/span> Ja Morant<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> Anthony Edwards<\/span><\/a> on the same team. It would be the most exciting, fast and athletic backcourt in basketball history.<\/span><\/p>\n

For fans in Minnesota, this dream trade idea changes everything. It turns the Timberwolves into a championship favorite and probably the most fun team to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Timberwolves Must Reject Temptation of a Ja Morant Trade<\/h2>\n

ESPN senior writer Andr\u00e9 Snellings <\/span>proposed a bold move<\/span><\/a> earlier this week. He suggested sending Morant from Memphis to Minnesota in exchange for<\/span>\u00a0Julius Randle<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Terrence Shannon Jr.<\/span><\/a>, and<\/span> Joan Beringer<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Minnesota Desperately Needs Guard Help<\/h3>\n

The Timberwolves fell to the Spurs in the second round this postseason. They have now missed the Western Conference Finals twice in three years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Donte DiVincenzo<\/span><\/a> tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 against Denver, leaving a clear gap at lead guard for Minnesota. DiVincenzo had started all 82 regular-season games before that devastating injury. <\/span>He will miss 10 to 12 months of action.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu<\/span><\/a> and Edwards both perform better playing off the ball. Morant could fill that playmaking void immediately when available.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards Needs a True Co-Star<\/h3>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Edwards carried a massive offensive load throughout this season. He averaged 28.8 points per game across 61 regular-season appearances. <\/span>Knee pain limited him to a career-low number of games. The Spurs series exposed the Wolves’ lack of a secondary scoring option.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding a true co-star<\/a> for Edwards should be the top priority this summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEdwards and Morant, on paper, would form one of the most dynamic and explosive backcourts in the NBA.\u201d Snellings <\/span>wrote<\/span><\/a> about the potential pairing. <\/span>The vision is easy to picture for any basketball fan. Morant averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists across his 20 appearances.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two explosive guards attacking on the open floor would terrorize defenses nightly.<\/span> Rudy Gobert<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Naz Reid<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and<\/span> Jaden McDaniels<\/span><\/a> would anchor the frontcourt behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Availability Problem That Changes Everything<\/h3>\n

The dream crashes into one brutal and undeniable reality. Morant<\/a> played only 20 games during the 2025-26 season.<\/span><\/p>\n

He has appeared in just 79 games over the past three seasons combined. Injuries and off-court issues have repeatedly sidelined the 26-year-old guard. <\/span>Clashes with his coaching staff added further tension. His trade value<\/a> dropped so far that teams asked Memphis for picks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Kings reportedly<\/a> asked the Grizzlies to include a first-round pick to absorb Morant’s contract. That reveals just how far his stock has fallen leaguewide.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cost Is Simply Too Steep<\/h3>\n

Shannon averaged 17.3 points in a brief three-game playoff sample this year. Beringer was the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. <\/span>And Randle remains a productive and reliable veteran starter for Minnesota. Giving up all three for an unreliable star qualifies as a major overpay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marks warned the deal \u201cwould hard cap the franchise at the first apron.\u201d He added it \u201ccould make it difficult to sign free agent Dosunmu.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Losing Dosunmu in free agency would create yet another backcourt hole. That defeats the entire purpose of trading for Morant.<\/span><\/p>\n

An Alternative Ja Morant Trade Framework<\/h3>\n

NBA analyst Jake Weinbach <\/span>offered a different trade structure<\/span><\/a>. He proposed extending Randle and DiVincenzo\u2019s expiring contracts with minimal draft compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Weinbach wrote on X that \u201ca third team could also enter the framework\u201d if needed. This would apply if the Grizzlies resist absorbing Randle\u2019s contract.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If the Timberwolves pursue a deal for Ja Morant, a trade package would likely include Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo\u2019s expiring contract, and small draft compensation.<\/p>\n

A third team could also enter the framework if the Grizzlies are unwilling to absorb the remaining two years\u2026<\/p>\n

— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) May 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n