NBA intel: Ja, Zion, Trae among five stars we're watching - ESPN

Even before Ja Morant's postgame comments last week that led to a one-game suspension, followed by the star guard passing on the chance to defuse tension between himself and the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff, plenty of eyes were watching how their season would play out.

Last spring, after a shocking late-season coaching upheaval and a first-round sweep by the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman was blunt in his assessment.

«I don't think we can look back at this series and say 'Oh, we're close!' he said. „No, we're not.“

Then came this summer, when Memphis sent Desmond Bane — a pillar of the franchise alongside Morant and big man Jaren Jackson Jr. — to the Orlando Magic for a haul of draft picks, backing up Kleiman's words with significant action. The Grizzlies handed Jackson a five-year, $240 million contract extension — and didn't tack on any additional seasons to the three years and roughly $126 million owed to Morant.

Those moves left Morant and the Grizzlies in a version of NBA limbo entering this season, even before the team's current situation. But Morant is just one of several franchise stars facing uncertain futures in the first few weeks of 2025-26.

Here is a look at each of them, what league insiders are saying about their individual futures and where their teams are headed — with, or potentially without, those standouts moving forward.

Jump to player intel:
Ja Morant | Zion Williamson | Trae Young
LaMelo Ball | Giannis Antetokounmpo

2025-26: 22.0 PPG (38.3 FG%), 7.3 APG, 30.0 MPG
Contract: Year 3 of five-year, $197 million deal

Windhorst: Naturally sparking all kinds of trade speculation, Morant's one-game suspension was the leading conversation piece when