Talk surrounding Ja Morant’s future with the Memphis Grizzlies continues to grow. The Miami Heat has emerged as a potential landing spot for the Two-time NBA all-star. But former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is not convinced.
Gilbert Arenas Pours Cold Water on Ja Morant–Miami Heat Trade Idea
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas delivered a blunt assessment of Miami’s reported interest in Morant during an episode of the Gil’s Arena Show podcast.
Arenas questioned whether the Heat have the assets Memphis would want in a potential blockbuster trade.
“Nobody is going to Miami,” Arenas said. “They want picks and players? Who the f**k is over in Miami that anybody wants in this NBA. Can you tell me in last 10-15 years, a Miami player that left and was successful when they left. I don’t think Memphis, even though they seem desperate right now, I don’t think they are that desperate to take anything that’s coming out of Miami.”
Arenas went even further, arguing that the Heat simply do not have enough appealing talent to entice a rebuilding franchise like the Grizzlies.
“There are no basketball players in Florida right now,” he added.
The comments came shortly after ESPN insider Shams Charania floated the idea that Miami could be among several teams monitoring Morant’s situation.
Speaking on NBA Today with Malika Andrews, Charania said the Heat and Sacramento Kings are believed to have a level of interest if Memphis decides to move its franchise star.
“This is potentially the beginning of Ja Morant’s exit in Memphis,” Charania said. “From my understanding, Miami, Sacramento, multiple other teams have a level of interest.”
Charania previously broke the news on Jan. 9 that the Grizzlies are seriously entertaining the possibility of trading Morant ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. The fact that Memphis is listening for a trade has fueled league-wide speculation.
Injuries, meanwhile, remain a major factor behind the uncertainty. Morant has missed the Grizzlies’ last five games with a right calf bruise and has played in only 18 games this season.
He has a chance to return Thursday when Memphis faces the Orlando Magic in Berlin as part of the NBA’s international slate, but his availability has been inconsistent.
The durability concerns extend beyond this season. Over the previous two years, Morant appeared in just 59 total games. In the 2023-24 season, he played only nine games.
Earlier this year, Morant missed 10 games with a Grade 1 right calf strain, then sat out four more with a left ankle sprain in December. After returning on Dec. 26 and playing four games, the right calf bruise sidelined him again starting Jan. 4.
Grizzlies Doing Better Without Morant on Court
When healthy, Morant’s talent is undeniable. He is a two-time All-Star, earning selections in 2022 and 2023, and previously led Memphis to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. However, availability and off-court issues have complicated his standing within the organization.
Reports have also pointed to internal tension. Morant has had issues with Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo, which led to a one-game suspension in November 2025 for conduct detrimental to the team.
The results on the court reflect the uncertainty. Memphis is 6-12 in games Morant has played this season and 11-10 without him. Overall, the Grizzlies sit 10th in the Western Conference at 17-22, firmly in the middle of the play-in race.
With Memphis increasingly focused on resetting the franchise, trading Morant would allow the team to build around younger pieces, most notably 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. That long-term view is why Arenas believes Miami’s interest may not amount to much.