Breaking news, ladies and gentleman, Ja Morant is in the media for another silly incident involving a firearm on social media. For some reason, one of the most talented point guards in NBA history is deciding to act foolish and not take care of his brand after holding a gun and playing rambunctious music during a live social media session. The Memphis Grizzlies have immediately responded, suspending their star player.
This comes after Ja Morant got suspended by the NBA and the Grizzlies franchise, with the point guard coming out in an interview with Jalen Rose to apologize. It is obvious that Morant did not mean his apology, and the point guard’s future is in jeopardy. Everyone deserves a second chance, but what about a third chance? Regardless, the Memphis Grizzlies have one of the most interesting summers coming up after the franchise decided to not bring back Dillon Brooks. Obviously, there could be roster changes coming and one of those could involve Ja Morant.
It is reasonable that the Grizzlies end up trading Morant to get themselves out of the spotlight and rebuild around talented big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and some new pieces. Memphis finished second in the Western Conference with a 51-31 record but lost to the 7th-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs which is a big wakeup call. Meanwhile, speaking of the Lakers, this team is currently headed to the Western Conference Finals to take on the Denver Nuggets in a showdown for the ages.
The Lakers could actually be the team to take on Ja Morant and form one of the greatest Big Threes in NBA history. In one of the most surprising moves of the summer, here is the trade package that could see two-time All-Star Morant join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles:
Lakers Land A Young Superstar
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Recieve: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, 2029 First-Round Pick
This trade package gives Memphis three young players to build around, along with a first-round pick for franchise star Ja Morant. The Lakers will take on a superstar player to form a dynamic lineup that will catapult the franchise into title contention as the favorites in the Western Conference.
Lakers Form The Best Big Three In The NBA
Ja Morant is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA today. The 23-year-old superstar had another outstanding season with the Memphis Grizzlies, leading them to the playoffs despite the drama surrounding him and the franchise (26.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 8.1 APG). With great speed, athleticism, and court vision, Morant is a playmaker who can create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates alike. If Morant were to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers, it would give them a formidable “Big Three” that would instantly make them the favorites to win the Western Conference. James and Davis are already one of the league’s best duos, combining for over 55 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists per game in the 2022-2023 season. But with the addition of Morant, the Lakers would have a dynamic point guard who can take some offensive load off James and create opportunities for Davis, as well as other Lakers teammates.
The Lakers were not a great offensive team for most of the regular season, ranking only 20th in offensive rating, with James doing much of the scoring with Davis dealing with injuries. Morant’s speed and ability to get to the basket would fit perfectly with James’ outstanding passing ability. James would be able to set up Morant for easy layups and dunks, while Morant could return the favor by creating space for James to knock down threes from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Davis and Morant could form a pick-and-roll partnership that would give opposing defenses nightmares. With Morant’s quickness and Davis’s length and shooting touch, they could be an unstoppable combination. Moreover, Morant’s presence on the Lakers would offer strategic advantages as well.
If opponents focus too much on trying to stop the James-Davis duo, Morant could step up by taking over the offensive duties and producing numbers. In addition, the Lakers’ second unit would benefit from Morant’s presence in the starting lineup, allowing players like Lonnie Walker IV, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley to focus on their core roles and providing scoring punch and leadership through Morant’s playmaking abilities. Of course, the Lakers would have to make some roster adjustments to acquire Morant, which could include trading valuable young assets and the important 2029 first-round pick.
But assuming they can make the move, the Lakers would be the heavy favorites to reign supreme in the West. With outstanding talent, chemistry, and coaching under Darvin Ham, the Lakers would have the perfect mix of attributes to become NBA champions by using the reinvigorated Big Three as their main weapon.
Memphis Re-Builds And Removes Drama
D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and the 2029 first-round pick are all valuable assets that could potentially benefit the Memphis Grizzlies in the long term. D’Angelo Russell is a skilled guard who has shown the ability to score and create for others throughout his NBA career. He’s still just 25 years old and has plenty of upside despite some injury concerns in recent years. If he can stay healthy, Russell could form a potent backcourt pairing with the pending Dillon Brooks replacement in Memphis and help the team compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves is a versatile wing who was a standout player in college for the Oklahoma Sooners. However, nobody would have thought that the player would end up becoming nearly untouchable as a player who is commanding somewhere near a $50 million contract. He can shoot from deep, create off the dribble, and defend multiple positions. If he were to be included in a trade to the Grizzlies, he could provide depth on the wing and potentially develop into an All-Star down the line. Unlike Brooks, Reaves won’t chat unnecessarily and will focus purely on improving his offensive and defensive game without needing media attention. No doubt, Reaves would be a player that would fit beautifully alongside Jaren Jackson and D’Angelo Russell in the starting lineup.
Of course, Rui Hachimura is a talented forward who has shown flashes of potential in his four seasons with the Washington Wizards and his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s a versatile player who can score from inside and outside and has the physical tools to become a strong defender. Hachimura has already proven himself to be a valuable player in the NBA, and if he were to be included in a trade to Memphis, he could provide help at the power forward position. Finally, the 2029 first-round pick is another asset that could be valuable for the Grizzlies. While it’s impossible to know for sure what players will be available in that draft, having an extra first-round pick in any year can provide flexibility and opportunities to add talent to the roster.
While it’s never easy to trade away a young star like Ja Morant, acquiring a package of assets like this could provide the Grizzlies with a solid foundation for the future. Russell, Reaves, Hachimura, and the 2029 first-round pick would all be under team control for at least a few seasons, and the Grizzlies could potentially use those assets to make further moves down the line. As hurtful as it will be for Memphis to lose Morant, a move could be necessary for the franchise to get back on track.
Massive Changes Coming This Summer
There could be massive changes coming this summer involving Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Ja Morant has been an exceptional player over the past few seasons, making the last two All-Star Teams and arriving as one of the faces of the NBA. However, his inability to stay focused on basketball has meant the potential of the player and the team is not being realized. Morant needs exceptional leaders around him for a no-nonsense organization, things that are currently found in the title-contending Lakers led by LeBron James. LeBron was able to keep enigma Kyrie Irving focused and he can do the exact same thing with Ja Morant, who is not even in his prime yet and could use some leadership.
The Grizzlies do not have enough leaders in the locker room as they are a very young team but the likes of Dillon Brooks bringing unwanted attention to the franchise is not an example of maturity. Rather, the Grizzlies have not shown enough to keep Morant focused on a particular example. LeBron James, and to a lesser extent Anthony Davis, can certainly be the role models that Morant can look up to. Not to mention, the Lakers and the fanbase won’t put up with any nonsense and even a former MVP in Russell Westbrook had to experience that.
Ja will likely get to his best level of personal and professional behavior and focus with the Lakers, and that would spell the end for other teams in the Western Conference. No team can compete with the offensive and defensive firepower that LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Ja Morant can bring night in and night out. Surrounding this core with Lonnie Walker IV, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dennis Schroder, Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, and Wenyen Gabriel could be enough for Los Angeles to get over the top. Not to mention, looking at Los Angeles’ salary cap situation, they could even dig into the free agent market to bring in a two-way big man, including Andre Drummond or even DeMarcus Cousins among others.
Memphis will have to re-tool with Morant out of the picture and the drama that he (and Dillon Brooks) will be completely gone. A new core of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. would make the franchise incredibly interesting going forward. However, no doubt, the Lakers win this deal because they not only acquire the best player in the deal but a player who can thrive alongside two elite superstars and reach his full potential as a superstar point guard. With this blockbuster deal complete, the Los Angeles Lakers could end up being crowned the 2023-24 NBA champions.
