Ja Morant Current Contract Structure and Expiration
Ja Morant is under a multi-year rookie extension with the Memphis Grizzlies that runs through the 2026-27 NBA season. The deal includes a player option for the final season, giving Morant control over whether he remains with Memphis or tests free agency. His guaranteed salary for the 2024-25 season is approximately $36.6 million, with a built-in annual increase under the terms of the extension. The contract is fully guaranteed, meaning the Grizzlies are obligated to pay the salary regardless of performance or injury status. For the latest salary figures and contract details, see the NBA salary database on Spotrac Ja Morant salary and contract details.
The extension was signed in August 2022 and is structured as a five-year deal starting with the 2023-24 season. The base salary for the 2025-26 season is projected to rise above $39 million, with the player option year carrying a similar figure. The Grizzlies hold Morant's Bird Rights, which allows them to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him if he declines the option. The contract does not include a trade kicker or no-trade clause, giving Memphis full flexibility to move the pick-and-roll cornerstone in a future deal.
Team Options, Player Options, and Control Mechanisms
The final year of Ja Morant's current deal is a player option, not a team option, which means Morant decides whether to stay or test unrestricted free agency. If he exercises the option, the Grizzlies must match the salary or let him walk without compensation. If he declines, he becomes a free agent after the 2026-27 season and can negotiate a new max or near-max contract with any team. The player option amount is determined by the NBA collective bargaining agreement and is typically based on the average salary of the top 10 or 15 players in the league. See the NBA CBA summary on the NBA Players Association site NBA collective bargaining agreement overview.
Morant has not yet publicly announced whether he will exercise the player option, leaving the Grizzlies in a planning limbo for the 2027 offseason. The decision timeline typically falls in the summer before the final contract year, with teams and agents negotiating extensions or new deals in parallel. If Morant declines and signs elsewhere, Memphis would receive no draft compensation unless a sign-and-trade is arranged. The lack of a trade kicker means the Grizzlies would receive only the traded player exception value, not additional salary considerations.
Cap Impact, Max Contract Eligibility, and Future Scenarios
Ja Morant's current salary counts fully against the Memphis Grizzlies' salary cap and luxury tax apron. His cap hold for the 2026-27 season is projected to be above $40 million, which heavily constrains Memphis' ability to add free agents or make trades around the deadline. If Morant opts out and signs a new max deal with another team, the Grizzlies would clear significant cap space and gain flexibility to rebuild through draft picks and young talent. The NBA salary cap for the 2026-27 season is projected to be around $140 million, with the luxury tax threshold approximately $175 million, per the latest NBA salary cap projections on Basketball Insiders NBA salary cap projections.
Under the NBA's max contract rules, a player with Morant's All-NBA credentials and tenure can qualify for a 35% max or a 30%