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While there are NBA stars like Kevin Durant who are expected to be on different team next season, there are others who have been with respective teams for seasons and need a move. For some, they’ve had bad luck with their teams while others have been plagued by injuries. At this in their respective runs with their teams, a change of scenery is desperately needed.
Ja Morant
After spending his first six seasons in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, it is time for the team to move on from Ja Morant. Over six seasons, the Grizzlies have had success with Ja, making the playoffs four out of six seasons, but have not taken the next step many have expected them to. Morant has been consistent for the Grizzlies, playing at least 50 games in all except one season, with a career average of 22.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 7.4 APG. Ja’s off-court antics have gotten him in trouble over recent years, with many questioning if Memphis is the right environment for the young guard.
With the Grizzlies shockingly moving on from head coach Taylor Jenkins with under 10 games left in the season, there are questions about whether Memphis could move on from Morant. A fresh start would give Ja a chance to excel in a new environment. If Ja were to be made available in trade talks this offseason, he would be one of the most highly sought-after players this summer. With Jarren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane still in Memphis and both being key parts of the Grizzlies’ core, Morant could bring the team a strong return as they try to return to championship contention. Currently down 3-0 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs, a sweep could be enough to convince ownership that a change is needed.
Trae Young
In his seven seasons in the NBA and with the Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young has had his ups and downs with the team. The Hawks have had four seasons with 40 or more wins, but only two of those seasons were over .500. Their best season with Young would be the 2020-21 season that saw the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but the team has not made the playoffs since the 2022-23 season and have lost in the play-in the last two seasons. The Hawks have tried adding significant pieces to Young, but it hasn’t been enough for the team to find success.
After years of struggling to compete with teams and other teams leapfrogging them, the Hawks have been stuck in the middle with little hope of getting out. For Young, a fresh start is needed where he can complement another player. Rumors over the last couple of seasons suggested the Spurs might have been interested in pairing Young with Victor Wembanyama, but with the team trading for De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs no longer need Young. There are still several teams that could use an All-Star level point guard in Young to take them to the next level.
Zion Williamson
Since being drafted first overall in the 2019 NBA draft, Zion Williamson has spent more time off the court than on the court. Excluding the 2021-22 season (where he did not play), Williamson has played more than 60 games in two seasons and has played 30 or fewer games in the other three seasons. Missing so many games due to injuries, the Pelicans would protect themselves with protections and guarantees in the five-year, $197 million deal they gave Zion in the summer of 2023.
This past season, Zion would play only 30 games, but would average 24.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 5.3 APG. With the firing of David Griffin and hiring of Joe Dumars, many expect change, with rumors suggesting ownership wants Dumars to trade Zion. With the team having a 12% chance of landing the first overall pick and nearly a 50% chance of landing a top-four pick, New Orleans has a strong chance of landing Cooper Flagg or another player with star potential. After six years in New Orleans, it is clear Zion does not want to be there. For the Pelicans, the best move they can make this offseason is ending the Zion Williamson era.
LaMelo Ball
In his five seasons in the league so far, LaMelo Ball has blossomed into an All-Star-level player but hasn’t seen much success with the Charlotte Hornets. In his five seasons played, Ball has had one season where he’s played 70 or more games and the other four seasons playing 51 or fewer games. Charlotte has only had one winning season in the LaMelo Ball era: the 2021-22 season. Despite Ball having a strong season, averaging 25.2 PPG, 7.4 APG, and 4.9 RPG in 47 games, the Hornets were 16-31 in the games he played and had the third-worst record at 19-63.
About to enter the second year of his five-year, $203 million contract, Ball has shown he is not the number one option for the team. With one of the highest chances to land a generational talent in Cooper Flagg or another star potential player at the top of the draft, moving Ball for promising pieces or future draft capital should be a realistic option for the Hornets. With several teams in need of a guard, Ball could bring back a respectable package
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