Windhorst Says Ja Morant Is 'Flagrantly Available'

Ja Morant appears to be on the market in the loudest possible way.

Brian Windhorst was asked about Morant on Thursday's episode of Unsportsmanlike and called him "flagrantly available." Then he made the point even clearer: "Like, couldn't be more available."

The availability is one part of the story. The market is the harder part.

Windhorst said Morant continues to draw very little interest and that Memphis would likely have to attach additional compensation to complete a trade. The reason is contract risk. Morant has two seasons left, which gives an acquiring team less room to walk away if the move fails.

"If Ja had one year on his contract, I think he would have been traded months ago," Windhorst said. "Because I think that's a reasonable risk. He is super motivated to have a big time year. But he has two years on his contract. So if you trade for him and it doesn't work out, you're left with an unpalatable amount of risk."

Other guards have already moved. Trae Young was traded to the Wizards and signed a four-year, $212 million deal. LaMelo Ball went to the Timberwolves this week for a major package of future draft capital.

Morant remains unresolved.

Windhorst said Memphis is pivoting after trading Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson, with Cam Boozer now viewed as the player the Grizzlies want to build around. That makes Morant's situation less about casual listening and more about a team trying to close the door on its previous build.