By most accounts, the New Orleans Pelicans have plenty of expendable salary, want the Grizzlies’ second first-round 2026 NBA Draft pick, and seem willing to send multiple future first-rounders to make the deal happen. Morant to the Milwaukee Bucks makes sense, if only to reunite with Jenkins.

Both the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets have the money and need to shake things up with a star that will sell tickets. The Chicago Bulls are known for making big splashes that do not make competitive or financial sense, if fans are looking for an out-of-nowhere offer. At least one NBA Playoffs washout will come calling as well. Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets desperately need a point guard, going by their NBA Playoffs games so far, for example.

Getting those teams to throw out their absolute best offer is going to take some work, though.

Zion Williamson’s Pelicans are perhaps the most motivated buyer and the best story for the NBA to sell, given what was expected of the duo during the 2019 NBA Draft. New Orleans is devoid of a 2026 first-round pick after trading up for Derik Queen last summer. Still, Joe Dumars went public with a desire to move back into this year’s draft. New Orleans was also snooping around the Morant situation for the last six months.

Armed with future draft capital and a willingness to take on salary, the Pelicans can offer a package centered around an established veteran and multiple unprotected future first-round picks. A potential framework including either Dejounte Murray or Jordan Poole and Jordan Hawkins is a start. Getting the Pelicans to include a couple of future first-round picks and a swap would likely seal the deal. It’s hard to see anyone topping the Big Easy’s best.

The reunion chemistry is an obvious narrative in Milwaukee. If the Bucks want to maximize their aging core prior to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract expiration, trading for Jenkins’ former star guard makes strategic sense. If Giannis is out either way, Morant is the new face of the franchise. Ja, who would be expecting a contract extension, would be cheaper and younger. Obviously, since Giannis would not go to Grind City, this would be at least a three-team deal, complicating matters just a bit.

The Kings reportedly engaged in serious Morant negotiations before the trade deadline, but those talks stalled because they demanded the Grizzlies attach a first-round pick to compensate for the contract risks. Past that, the Nets should be buyers looking to make the next step towards relevancy in a major market.

True to their history, the Chicago Bulls remain the wild card. The organization has a longstanding reputation for making big splashes that do not make competitive or financial sense. If the Bulls strike out on other stars, they might convince themselves that a Morant-led squad could push for a top-six seed. Josh Giddey, only 23-years-old and on a long-term deal, seems likely to headline any Windy City offer.

Memphis found no takers at the last trade deadline. Some reports even suggested the Grizzlies would have to part ways with a future first-round pick to move Morant’s contract. That seems a bit far-fetched; the compensation should be comparable to what the Atlanta Hawks got for Trae Young. As the NBA landscape shifts throughout free agency, someone will become desperate to remain relevant.

Morant can do that for any franchise on name and shoe popularity alone. Still, the Grizzlies are not rushing to move their 26-year-old point guard. Instead, the front office is methodically identifying and tracking suitors with the salary flexibility, assets, and urgency to justify a blockbuster deal.

Kleiman is in the early stages of what promises to be a protracted negotiation. As the summer nears, expect the Grizzlies to continue weaponizing the interest from these six teams to finally secure the type of rebuild-boosting return that will change the narratives around the team’s direction.