Grizzlies Acquire:
Julius Randle
Donte DiVincenzo
2026 second round pick from Indiana, Miami, or San Antonio (least favorable)
2027 unprotected 2nd round pick via Cleveland
2030 second round pick via Memphis
Timberwolves Acquire:
Ja Morant
Vince Williams Jr.
GG Jackson
2030 first round pick via Orlando
Why the Grizzlies make this deal:
It's February 2026, and the Ja Morant situation has reached a breaking point. He's no longer willing to risk his long-term health playing for a head coach who he feels is constantly throwing him under the bus on a lottery team. Morant and his family owned agency, iLOC, are now demanding that he be traded to a playoff contender.
Meanwhile, not many teams are willing to trade for an injury-prone star point guard who is currently shooting 16.7% from three, isn't good on defense, and has constant off-court drama. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings remain the two most interested teams. The Miami Heat have also checked in on Morant, but aren't actively pursuing him.
By acquiring Julius Randle, they're getting an All-Star caliber power forward who is a menace in the paint, can stretch the floor, and can playmake for others. Randle also embodies the grit and grind identity of Grizzlies teams past, especially on offense. Donte DiVincenzo has several years of chemistry built up with Randle, and is a steady high volume three point shooter who is shooting 38.8% from three on 7.9 attempts per game this season. Lastly, the three second round picks will help Memphis' attempt at a competitive rebuild.
The bottom line is this: The Grizzlies now have a distressed asset in Ja Morant who is tanking his already low trade value by the day. There is a sense of urgency to trade Morant before he either undermines the new culture Tuomas Iisalo is trying to build, or offers from the two interested teams get worse or dry up completely.
Why the Timberwolves make this deal:
The most obvious reason is that the Wolves desperately need a point guard. Mike Conley has been relegated to backup duties, and former 8th overall pick Rob Dillingham is nowhere near becoming a legitimate starting option. While Donte DiVincenzo has been an upgrade over Conley, he's simply not a natural playmaker and it hurts the Wolves in tightly contested games when you need someone who can run the offense. Ja Morant would not only solve that problem, he'd be the best point guard Anthony Edwards has played with in his career by far.
Ja Morant has regressed from his 2022 form. However, a lot of that can be attributed to his relationship with Memphis' new coaching staff deteriorating leading to a loss of joy and a sharp decline in production this season. Minnesota makes this trade under the belief that they can get the most out of Morant by allowing him to play the quick, downhill style of basketball he wants to, while playing next to the best shooting guard in the league in Anthony Edwards.
Then there's GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. Jackson is a third year developmental score-first power forward who has fallen out of favor with the Grizzlies new coaching staff. Williams is a fourth year 3&D wing who has potential as a secondary ball handler. Both have the potential to earn more consistent roles as rotational players averaging 15-20 minutes per game. The Wolves also receive what will likely be a late 2030 first round pick via Orlando, to make up for the fact that Minnesota is receiving less statistically productive players in return.
A Julius/Ja trade is the definition of a high risk, high reward deal for Minnesota. Ja Morant is still only 26 years old, and his age aligns perfectly with the Timberwolves long-term starting core of Anthony Edwards (25), Jaden McDaniels (24), Naz Reid (26), and Joan Beringer (19). If the Wolves can get the best out of Morant, then they'll extend their window by at least five years. Given how difficult it is to convince big name free agents to play in Minnesota in the winter, this may be a risk worth taking for a small market team that has been on the verge of reaching the NBA Finals two years in a row.