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 on social media posts.
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 isn’t a new concept and rival teams have been monitoring the situation. 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 (video 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 percent trade bonus if he’s dealt.
His new team would have to believe Morant would be the missing piece to a championship. They’d 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.
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.
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.