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At one point in his career, Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant was one of the most valuable assets in the entire NBA. Now, not only are the Grizzlies looking to trade Morant, but they’re struggling to do so because of his reported “negative value.”
Morant, the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, made his first All-Star Game in 2022 and finished seventh in the league’s MVP voting. He once against made the All-Star Game the following season and looked like a franchise cornerstone for an up-and-coming Grizzlies team that could contend for championships.
Then, things began to go off the rails.
Morant found himself in several off-court controversies, including multiple firearm-related incidents that led to him being suspended by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
He’s also suffered immensely with injuries, playing just 79 total games over the last three seasons combined. Pair that with a five-year, $197 million contract that has two years remaining and includes a 15 percent trade kicker and it’s easy to see why Memphis might want to move on.
However, that won’t be so easy.
Brian Windhorst Says Ja Morant Has Negative Value Across The NBA
The Grizzlies looked to move Morant prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, especially after trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz.
But they were unable to find a suitor.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Grizzlies would have needed to add additional in order to convince a team to take on Morant’s salary.
“I think he’s got, what they call in the league, negative value. Teams were not willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also attached draft compensation.”
– Brian Windhorst 👀
(via @GetUpESPN)
pic.twitter.com/e5Uu2vpJBS— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 6, 2026
“When I say he has no value,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s Get Up “I don’t even think that’s accurate. I think he’s got what they call in the league ‘negative value,’ and what that means is teams were not willing to take Ja Morant unless the Grizzlies also attached draft compensation, in other words, you have to pay us to take him.
“Between the suspensions, the injuries, and the issues with the coaches, he has missed so many games,” he added.
Morant is still just 26 years old. It’s not impossible for him to get back on track. But as of now, he’s in the middle of one of the biggest falls from grace in recent NBA history, and he has nobody to blame but himself.