Trade Deadline: Morant, Towns, Ball Not Actively Shopped

Two weeks from the deadline, teams are not actively shopping marquee names like Karl-Anthony Towns, Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball, per The Athletic. Morant appears the likeliest candidate after ESPN’s Shams Charania said the Grizzlies were "entertaining offers to potentially move" him, but missed games and $87.1 million remaining on his deal complicate trades. Towns’ potential four-year, $260 million extension and the Knicks’ recent slump add friction, while Ball’s $130.7 million guaranteed makes him a costly option. Merlin sees a quiet market for now but warns "not actively" does not mean never. Some execs view Morant as "a terrific buy-low candidate" and a "serious difference-maker" when healthy. Salary and injury risk will mute interest, yet a late injury or bold offer could flip the script.