NBA Draft rumors: Ja Morant surgery could drop him to Knicks

Ja Morant is getting a minor procedure done on his knee, but it could be just enough to drop him from the Memphis Grizzlies to the New York Knicks.

The top three picks in the upcoming NBA Draft appear to be set. Zion Williamson is going first to the New Orleans Pelicans. Ja Morant will head to the Memphis Grizzlies. The New York Knicks will use the No. 3 choice to take R.J. Barrett from Duke.

Not so fast.

According to the New York Post, the Knicks might end up landing Morant on June 20. The former Murray State star is undergoing a minor surgery to clean up his knee, putting him out for approximately a month. While it doesn’t seem like much, could it be just enough to make Memphis take Barrett and keep point guard Mike Conley Jr., who would almost certainly be dealt if Morant goes to the Grizzlies.

Of course, there are ample layers to this situation. While the Knicks are currently slated to pick third, everything could change once the NBA Finals are over. At that point, the Pelicans might officially put star center Anthony Davis on the block, with New York being one of the biggest suitors.

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Any package that the Knicks would create must include the No. 3 selection, likely along with forward Kevin Knox and future first-round picks. New York has a bevy of them after acquiring a pair of first-routers from the Dallas Mavericks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.