The NBA rumor mill just dropped a potential season-shifter: the New Orleans Pelicans have aggressively pursued a blockbuster deal for Ja Morant, opening trade discussions with the Memphis Grizzlies around a stunning multi-player package.
If completed, the move would reunite Morant with Zion Williamson — the top two picks of the 2019 draft and former AAU teammates — forming one of the most explosive duos the league has ever seen.
The Reported Trade Framework
According to league intel, New Orleans floated a four-player proposal built around proven backcourt talent:
Grizzlies receive:
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Jordan Poole
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Dejounte Murray
Pelicans receive:
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Ja Morant
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The Pelicans also explored alternate versions — including Poole with Kevon Looney or additional young pieces — but Memphis reportedly demanded a first-round pick in any deal, a price New Orleans has so far resisted.
Why the Pelicans Are Going All-In
New Orleans isn’t looking for minor tweaks. Front-office messaging has been clear: they want a franchise-altering star move, not a marginal upgrade.
Landing Morant would:
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Create a Ja–Zion pick-and-roll nightmare
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Instantly fix late-game shot creation
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Inject star power into the league’s worst record team
At 12-36, the Pelicans need a seismic change — and pairing two generational athletes is the ultimate swing.
Why Memphis Might Even Listen
Trading Morant once felt impossible. Now it’s at least being discussed.
His tenure has been complicated by injuries, suspensions, and reported friction within the organization, and while he has publicly expressed loyalty, his recent trajectory has fueled speculation about a potential reset in Memphis.
The Grizzlies currently sit outside the Play-In picture, making a depth-focused return — two starting-caliber guards plus assets — a plausible retool rather than a full teardown.
The Sticking Point: Draft Capital
Memphis’ stance is simple: no deal without a first-round pick attached.
New Orleans has been willing to reshuffle its roster but refuses to mortgage its future, creating the central roadblock in negotiations.
That tension — win-now aggression vs. long-term asset protection — will determine whether talks progress or collapse.
Conflicting Intel Adds Mystery
Not all insiders agree the discussions are concrete. One prominent report suggested no formal trade talks have taken place, highlighting how fluid — and uncertain — the situation remains.
In other words: framework floated, interest real, deal far from done.
What a Ja–Zion Duo Would Mean for the NBA
If the Pelicans pull this off:
New Orleans:
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Gains a true superstar initiator
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Forms the league’s most athletic inside-out pairing
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Instantly becomes must-watch TV
Memphis:
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Adds backcourt depth and veteran stability
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Gains roster flexibility for a soft reset
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Potentially reshapes its timeline around Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Pelicans aren’t quietly exploring — they’re hunting a blockbuster.
The Grizzlies are listening — but only at a premium.
And the NBA could be one protected first-round pick away from a Ja–Zion reunion that would break the internet.
This is no longer a rumor to ignore. It’s a power play in progress.
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