Offseason trade proposal sends Ja Morant to Lakers

Any list of hypothetical NBA trade destinations for Grizzlies star Ja Morant would inevitably have to include the Lakers, right? Right.

However, a move to LA may not be the best fit for Morant, particularly from a basketball standpoint. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James already on the roster, the Lakers are in greater need of wings and bigs than another ball-dominant guard.

That said, Morant could fill a complementary, off-guard role similar to that of Allen Iverson in his prime and still contribute significantly. But would the Lakers pursue him to bolster their Luka-LeBron core? Probably not.

No matter, here’s a look at what a potential deal could look like, as suggested by Colin Keane of Sporting News:

Lakers receive:

• Ja Morant

Grizzlies receive:

• Austin Reaves
• Rui Hachimura
• Dorian Finney-Smith

If the Grizzlies were to entertain offers for Morant, the Lakers’ package may face competition unless they are willing to include additional draft assets. A deal that includes Reaves, Hachimura, Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2027 top-four protected pick could potentially spark Memphis’ interest.

Ultimately, though, the Lakers would be reluctant to part with Reaves and two valuable role players for a player like Morant. While undeniably more talented than any of the players in the proposed package, Morant’s skill set might not complement the needs of the Lakers’ existing stars.

From an entertainment perspective, however, Morant’s bold personality and dynamic playing style would make for an exciting fit in Hollywood, making the idea of him joining the Lakers a tantalizing one to imagine.

In all likelihood, Morant would prefer to join an NBA team where he could be the top option — which, of course, would to other potential trade scenarios.

Without a doubt, we will have more fun and write about them all here.