The Raptors among 5 teams favoured to land Ja Morant
According to Evan Sidery, the Raptors will closely monitor the Ja Morant situation in Memphis should the relationship fall any further. It’s clear Ja is already floating around that he’s ready for a change of scenery, the Raptors have a lot going for them.
call to make a trade WITH ME: https://streamyard.com/4dpea8nbkw
1. Sacramento Kings 4/1, Miami Heat 5/1, Houston Rockets 6/1, Atlanta Hawks 7/1, Toronto Raptors 8/1 are the betting odds on Ja’s next team.
2. They have an established core trio already of Ingram, Barnes and Barrett, and adding Ja for presumably Immanuel Quickley is akin to trading one problem for another.
3. They’d be buying MEGA LOW on a superstar talent who in his peak finished top 7 in MVP voting.
4. They already have a coach who is good at developing relationships and getting buy in from players, one who has already coached Ja in Memphis and may already provide an insider’s view into what Ja is really like.
Is the risk worth the tremendous reward? Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s debate it.
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40 Comments
No2Ja! Right now everyone is getting to eat, so everyone is happy. There's only one ball, and Darko is not going to let Ja dribble the air out of it. Ja will detest that. We already have enough injury risk players on the team. Lastly, Ja's personality would clash with Canada. Ja looks like he's transforming into another Ben Simmons. All-star beginnings with a promising future, followed by years of injury and diminishing returns. Ben Simmons should still be in his prime at 29 yrs of age, yet no team wants him. No player has gotten this rich for contributing so little to team success.
I’d send IQ Dick & Ochai and 3 firsts on top (1 protected & a swap) although I wouldn’t mind 2 of those being unprotected.. thats how much i believe in him. Darko will take care of him, hard workers like Scottie & RJ will bring his joy back. I’d also try to involve a 3 team to eat that kcp contract for em thats just a thought tho. also if there’s a way we can grab edey we should absolutely. Around the 20 game mark if we’re running through the east like I expect us to this would be the move man. We shouldn’t overthink this, I kn bobby won’t
I find Ja to be a super exciting player and I'm also concerned his best years are already behind him. I think he's wrecking his own chances and that it's too big a risk with the heavy NO's vs the maybe YES. Keep RJ, he's proven to be super valuable, keen, and on a "value" contract. Maybe move IQ, but not for a poor shoot % ball dominant guard who is a locker room nightmare at the moment.
Cool stream idea, taking calls to negotiate trades is cool
whats the price on zach edey would be a nice backup c
Too many misunderstand Ja. For one His impact is hidden by lack of space & limited fair whistle in Memphis (watch how often he is double & triple team clobbered). He will work hard here. Stars need Stars. Let Ja be Ja in Canada 🇨🇦 he’s obviously playing down due to the bad fit & now desire to be traded
Ja Morants Top 25 Career Highlights (Above average Dribbling, Passing, Jumping / Blocking ability, Motivated Team Defence) https://youtu.be/ARK5aoKBIw0?si=KU5RXxAF4ULSd0qM
Would revolutionize Toronto Basketball & increase ticket value
Ja Crowns 👑 Wembley
https://youtu.be/FGu99nj8ye4?si=f0u6ws9Wla9EyGAs
Ja verses Toronto https://youtu.be/1vP0gRlsskw?si=1HeK9yK0sIe1Dg9r
Ja Morants Top 25 Career Highlights https://youtu.be/ARK5aoKBIw0?si=UP2IYpdnGUnmnjDA
No
I would do it … but i think we should trade or try to trade BI along with quickly only because offense will flow better … there is 1 ball … him RJ scottie will be a great trio … raptors will have to give a lot of draft capital … he's a distressed asset … I'd pull the trigger …
Ja did have his best years when Darko was on the Grizz coaching staff.
Canada's 2nd amendment: Temporary Government of Rupert's Land Act, 1869 Expired on 14 April 1871.
How on earth would he fit in that locker room..? Character matters.
I personally would love to see Ja in Toronto. I believe he could redeem his career and get back to that former self under coach Darko. But he would have to buy into the system and put in the work…
I havent looked for it, but I do remember Ja praising Scottie.. when he was having a second year slump after they had beat us, saying that he was a special talent and that we juat need to have patience… he's supported Scottie in the past so I know theyd get along…. my biggest deal on a potential trade is that offense isnt our problem, and I havent seen defensive commitment on that end….. if this somehow happens I wouldnt be mad id hope he turns his career around, if its just quickley and picks
I think the raptors would fit him just fine. It's a quiet team, a quiet atmosphere in Canada. Remember Kyle Lowry was a troubled player before the raptors picked him up.
That last caller gave up RJ 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
If we can get ja for IQ ochai and a pick can't say no
Great analysis
Great analysis. I was having this conversation about Ja a few days ago – it would have been good to have these numbers and analysis top of mind 😂.
I think the regression is kind of obvious, but I was not aware how stark it was – worse at everything and improved in nothing ..
Not saying it’s necessarily a true regression, but there’s a real clear risk there that it is
Edit: on the other hand this live has me going back and forth .. a lot of potential athleticism and talent is crazy. But yeah what are you sending back ..
The Upside is revolutionary. Risk minimal. Toronto receives: Ja Morant + Zach Edey (7-4 Canadian centre)
Memphis receives: Immanuel Quickley + one or two bench players (e.g., Elijah, Jakobe) + a 2026 first-round pick
⸻
📹 Responding to the Live Video Critique
In the referenced YouTube live discussion, several concerns about Morant were raised:
• Recent decline in efficiency and athletic explosion
• System fit questions (can he adapt?)
• Maturity, effort/energy issues (“did you have your usual energy tonight?”)
• Media image / locker-room fit
✅ Addressing each:
• Decline in efficiency & athleticism → You’re absolutely right to flag this. Morant’s numbers have dropped, his three-point shooting and decision-making flagged. But that is exactly why Toronto makes sense: a fresh start + a culture that emphasizes holistic development + a coach (Darko Rajaković) with a prior relationship with him. In other words: a situation built to re-unlock his peak, rather than mask decline.
• System fit → The live aired the concern: can Morant fit a disciplined Raptors scheme? My response: Yes, when the roster is built around his strengths. With Barnes/Ingram/RJ/Edey/Poeltl around him, you run pick-and-rolls, you use his downhill dribble and passing, you design for his athleticism (not restrict it). He doesn’t need to change who he is—Toronto adapts to him.
• Effort & energy concerns → The video asked about “what went wrong today? … usual energy tonight?” That tells us the issue is environment. Morant thrives when he feels supported. The Raptors offer a fanbase and locker-room known for love + accountability, not dysfunction. This is a reset where he can re-find that energy.
• Media/Locker room image risk → The video raised the public perception risk. True—Toronto media is intense. But that can work for him if he’s embraced on day one, given the trust, and the coach and front office set the tone. The narrative: “We believe in you; we’ve got you” can shift perception quickly.
⸻
🔥 Why This Package & Fit Make Sense (with the “Three 20-point scorers” angle)
• Toronto already has three scorers averaging ~20 PPG or more (Brandon Ingram ~21, RJ Barrett ~20+, Scottie Barnes ~20+).
• Adding Morant gives you a fourth elite creator-scorer, which is extremely rare in the league.
• Pairing him with Edey gives you a tall, athletic two-man combo (guard + 7-4 centre) built for modern spacing, lob threats, crash the boards.
• The package is solid for Memphis: Quickley (young guard), bench pieces, plus a 1st gives them value and flexibility.
• For Toronto: the core remains intact (Barnes, Ingram, Barrett), Morant becomes the engine.
• The culture fit is strong: Morant has said he wants a team that loves each other. Toronto under Rajaković is building exactly that.
• Addressing the risks: You are buying potential upside, not doubling down on current form only. The market may be undervaluing Morant given his recent issues.
⸻
📝 Final One-Line Sell
Toronto trades Quickley + bench + 1st to get Morant + Edey—giving Ja the city, culture and core he needs to resurrect his star level, and giving the Raptors a rare four-headed scoring/playmaking core built to win now and evolve together.
I feel like way to many people saying "how he gonna fit in the locker room" and not "how's he gonna fit on the court?" I think they would find a way to make almost any personality fit if the skill set fit well enough. No shooting, no defense, no thanks
Just popped in to say Heck No to trading for Ja lol.
could we rehabilitate and flip ja?
Immanuel Quickly + Grady + Ochai for Lauri. How many picks gets this deal done?
I'm curious to see if Darko can unlock more of Ja's game but with so many mouths to feed on this team, I'm not sure if Ja will be happy. But I do feel like he would thrive as an off ball cutter and would get a lot of easy ones in our offense with so many unselfish playmakers on this team especially our bigs. I could see a lot of back door cuts//alley oops, quick give and go's and downhill attacks off an off ball screen. Haven't really watched many Memphis games so I'm not sure how he's being used for most of their offense, but I feel like our quick decision offense could be the perfect system for Ja to thrive in.
This could also be an opportunity to offload Quickley's contract, I know he's struggling but honestly the fit next to Scottie hasn't looked great even though it looks good on paper. I feel like if Ja bought into a more off ball cutting role and penetrate, relocate, catch and shoot type of player, he would compliment Scottie so much better. But it all hinges on if he's willing to buy into that role.
The way which Zion and ja’s careers have unfolded is mind blowing. They were supposed to be the best number 1 and number 2 picks in a particular draft in a long time. The talent is undeniable but it shows that there is more to basketball than just raw talent
Lauri will cost way more than Ja in terms of trade pieces. The only reason why Ja is even an interesting trade target is because his cost is going to be very low and Memphis is on the hot seat in terms of having to deal with the Ja issue. There are going to be way teams competing for Lauri's services versus Ja.
pls god no
Sometimes a change of pace is good. At times players who gets traded plays with a chip on their shoulder, and we could see a different player. As long as the contract works in favor of the Raptors. Who knows, maybe he could turn it around under coach Darko?
Head case. The things he has got himself trouble for are some of the most immature idiotic things I have ever seen. Hope he figures it out but I would not touch him with a 10 foot pole. You think he wants to play in a ball movement offense? Dude is a 10 year old in an adults body.
This team almost gave up against Cleveland few games ago. Trading for Ja means they would have to go through the process of playing together again without a off-season. I don't think Ja would take being benched by Darko well either. I believe you either have Ja + Scottie or Scottie + Ingram as a duo.
This is with the presumption our center still cannot space the floor and RJ is still our shooting guard. Because what makes RJ valuable to this team right now is his ability to pressure the rim and play off ball. With Ja, RJs cutting and rim pressure won't be as valuable because I think Ja is able to do both of what RJ does, so now RJ slides to the 4th man in your lineup and in this lineup (Ja, RJ, Scottie, Ingram, C) your 4th best players strongest skill has to be his 3 point shooting, which is why I like IQ on this team right now (When he's not dribbling lol). Whether its Ja/Scottie/Ingram or Rj/Scottie/Ingram, in those 3 lineups those guys will be able to pressure the rim enough where the opposing team chooses either to defend the paint or defend the 3. Which is why your last 2 guys will most likely always have a open shot from 3 or a opportunity to attack a hard closeout which sadly right now IQ is having a bad slump and Poeltl cannot shoot.
In a scenario of all 3, I think Ingram will be the one who ends up taking the smaller role and would have to play a more similar role to what RJ is doing right now. Unfortunately, I don't think he came for that. And if someone were to say, it's probably Scottie because he is a unselfish player
1. Smaller usage rate doesn't mean you play a smaller role. With Scotties ability to fit with both guys he will be involved in the play regardless (or most of the time). Compared to BI and Ja, some plays BI won't be involved in the play which leaves him to stand in the corner or Ja standing on the top of the key which leads to point 2
2. BI is not a selfish player but being unselfish doesn't mean you enjoy the position your in. I actually think BI would be a better 3rd option then RJ, but with the roster construction, it would not allow us to maximize his talent in a scenario with Ja. And why I think BI automatically becomes your "3rd" option, is because if BI is willing to take a step back and let IQ and Shead create the offense, he will definitely take a step back for Ja.
You can compare this to the Celtics with Kemba. JB was that teams 3rd option where many times he shot threes from the corner. Keep in mind he is also forced to take more threes because their 4th and 5th players was Theis & Marcus Smart. But the year after they got rid of Kemba, he took a leap because he is a athletic dude who was able to thrive more being given more angles at the top compared to the corner. So yes, BI would take that smaller role but we would not be maximizing his abilities and he would not like it either. If you were to tell me we would replace RJ with Derrick White and Poeltl with Tingus Pingus then I probably would do the trade because now if your BI you won't be forced to shoot as many threes since your 4th and 5th best players will be doing more of that for you.
Trading for Ja means you are hoping you can simply beat teams with more talent but your not winning in a way you are getting the most of your players abilities (Assuming we still have RJ and Poeltl). That could work in the East, but top teams will force your 3rd-5th best players to beat you. And if your 3rd,4th, 5th best players are unable to play into their best skill set because they share the same weaknesses your top 2 players do, you will be hoping to win by luck instead of a winning formula.
Quickly is making 33M this year while only averaging 13pts off an abysmal 38% shooting… its one of the worst contracts in the NBA. Why would Memphis trade for that?
I trust the coaching here. Also, stars get eyeballs and whistles. Who doesnt want a good redemption storyline I want to be entertained! Get er done for a good price
he said the T..
Nooooo don’t want it
Rob you forgot the elephant in the room. Ja and Drake hate eachother. I doubt you make this move. Drake has influence in this. Will never happen. Plus Ja is a bit immature and we got great vibes. Send him to Miami with his dad
Chemistry is more important than talent