Ja Morant’s days with the Grizzlies appear to be numbered.
The controversial guard served a one-game team suspension on Sunday after he expressed frustration with the team’s coaching staff following their previous game, a loss to the Lakers in which Morant played poorly at both ends of the floor.
Morant wasn’t any cheerier after returning to action against the Pistons on Monday. He was held to 18 points after another subpar shooting performance, going 5-for-16 from the field. He also committed five turnovers, while counterpart Cade Cunningham took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 of his 33 points.
When asked if he had any joy playing basketball right now, Morant responded, “No.”
Morant’s career has nosedived after a very promising start. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 draft and quickly emerged as one of the league’s top point guards.
However, off the court issues stained his reputation. He was twice suspended in 2023 for conduct detrimental to the league for brandishing weapons in social media videos.
Injuries have also marred his career. After serving those suspensions, he was limited to nine games during the 2023/24 season due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Last season, he appeared in just 50 games, mainly due to an ankle injury. Since his rookie year, he’s never played in more than 63 regular season games.
With Morant leading the way, the franchise seemed poised to be a perennial powerhouse after the Grizzlies reached the conference semifinals in 2021/22. In the last three seasons, they’ve been knocked out in the first round, sandwiching the 27-55 campaign when Morant was limited to nine games.
It’s not a novel concept for the Grizzlies to consider dealing their floor leader, even if he doesn’t request a trade. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the idea of the Grizzlies moving Morant is a possibility that rival teams have been monitoring since at least the summer. However, ESPN’s Marc Spears reported on Tuesday that executives he’s spoken to have no interest in dealing for Morant, citing his off the court conduct and contract issues.
“Four of the execs I talked to today say they really have no interest in trading for him. One said it was because it’s a combo of contract and off the court issues,” Spears said on NBA Today (YouTube link). “Another suggested that if Ja is traded it’ll probably be a problem star for a problem star. I asked one current NBA coach if he would like to coach Ja Morant and he said I’m not sure I’d want to.”
Salary considerations would be a big factor for any team pondering a trade for Morant. He has two more years left on his current five-year, $197.22MM contract. He’s also due a 15% trade bonus (capped at his maximum salary) if he’s dealt.
His new team would have to believe Morant would be the missing piece to a championship. That team would also have to be convinced that Morant would benefit from a change of scenery and come in with a more mature, focused approach.
That brings us to today’s topic: Do you think the Grizzlies will deal Ja Morant this season? If so, which teams would be a logical fit for him?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Morant would prob waive his kicker just to get out of that sinking ship in Memphis. After dealing Bane I’m not sure what they are doing. I love JJ but he’s a 3rd best player on a good team. Not *the* guy.
Ja will outperform anyone he’s traded for with a new team.
“Ja will outperform anyone he’s traded for with a new team.”
That’s a huge gamble and given the probable cost to acquire him, probably not a gamble many teams are willing to take.
Ja “could” outperform anyone he’s traded for. But could is not “will.”
Ja could avoid suspensions.
Ja could work on his game (cause he’s not durable enough right now to continue to play above the rim or with all that contact.)
Ja will get traded.
He is a poor shooting, poor defense guard, who has slipped each season in athleticism. He may flame out super early because he was so athleticism based, and poorly sized.
“Ja will outperform…” Pick one. 1) for a week or so, 2) for a month or so, 3) until he doesn’t.
I wouldn’t say his days appeared to be numbered. That’s just the media doing its media thing and I feel like hoops rumors has always been above that and stays unbiased.
Ja Morant has issues. Wherever he goes he is going to be a problem. Something is off with that kid. He needs to get serious being a basketball player and stop messing around aNd needs to mature or nobody will take him and he will be in history books soon.
“Another [exec] suggested that if Ja is traded it’ll probably be a problem star for a problem star”. I tend to agree with that. Given the off-court issues, injury record and general bad attitude, I don’t think a trade is really possible until there’s another disgruntled star… which will probably happen sooner or later. Grizzlies’d better wait, unless the situation becomes Butler-esque.
Look what you’ve done Jimmy.
Everyone wants to have joy while playing now.
All work and no joy makes Ja a dull boy.
Is there anything that will give you more joy than playing ball. And getting paid to do it.
Wonder if Boston see him as someone worth going after, probably not going to be true contenders this year with Tatum out but once he returns Ja Brown and Tatum as a trio would be so tough.
In terms of money, Simons and Hauser matches Ja’s salary but that is likely well under the asking price and idk how many first round picks they’d be willing to let go of for a player that’s had issues.
They do low-key need a big addition or two tho after losing KP, Holiday, Horford and Kornet.
They could probably talk Memphis into giving them GG Jackson too, who’s be another solid forward to add.
Boston ofcoirse have Derrick White aswell who you could switch with Simons but do they want to give him up? Does Memphis want White for their star? Maybe a 3 team deal where Whiye goes elsewhere like Houston or something idk.
Spotrac trade machine says you need to add 1 more player from Boston to make the apron work, adding Jordan Walsh gets this okay’d on the app.
Ja is just a change of scenery guy. Memphis has always been run terribly, they were a bad fit from the jump. Love Ja proving himself as a teammate on a playoff team. He actually fits on quite a few teams where he could be a piece instead of the #1 whole show.
Yeah, I always think it’s funny when it is automatically the player’s fault. Has Morant done some dumb things? Sure, but he hasn’t SA’d or killed anyone, or even gotten a DUI. Guns are legs in this country. I think worst thing he did was punch that kid at a pickup game. Keep in mind, Morant is still young. Who didn’t do dumb things in their 20s? If I was running a team I’d take him in a heartbeat. Only issue I see with him is his inconsistency from 3. He’ll need to improve that as his athleticism wanes.
Gabe, you get it. Exactly what I’m saying. The media and the dumb fans love to hate on any player for any reason, even no good reason. Is Ja in a shooting slump right now? Yes. Those go away though.
Slow down Memphis
Trade Clarke, Konchar and a bunch of 2nds for a veteran C
Spurs should be all over this. Could trade Fox, and maybe one of Sochan, Vassel, Johnson. Wemby, Castle, Harper, Morant…game over for the rest of the league.
God no.
A rare way how the Spurs could Sabotage their future.
The irony that Ja Wick is in the titled “community shoot-around.”
Lol
Lisalo and Brown are both great candidates to be fired soon enough… you can not make your star players unhappy from the start of the season and expect things to end up well!
Ja is young and stupid. How ling is he going to get a pass for that. Memphis is not a city where the NBA is king. You need your team leaders to represent. I just don’t see this lasting much longer. I’m the owner I would be shopping him. Imo Raptors can give a good package in a trade. Players that are young vets. Who also need a change of scenery. A trade can wake up Ja. And make him grow up finally.
Ja to ATL or kings. Maybe to pels.
No contender will want Ja: 1) he is a mental case and immature, 2) he is inefficient, 3) his reckless style of play, while it gives you highlights, will mean that he will be often injured, 4) his contract is too big for all those issues.
Only teams who will want him are perennial lottery teams who want a circus act to sell some tickets.
I could see him being swapped for Zion or another underachiever. His contract is a plague with his recent stats so I don’t see him going anywhere. The Grizz coach is doing some weird rotations that I don’t understand at all, but shooting percentage tells you everything you need to know about Ja.
Murray and Fears for Morant?