Could the Memphis Grizzlies trade Ja Morant this summer? According to NBA insider Howard Beck on The Ringer’s ‘Real Ones’, he has heard from some NBA executives that Ja Morant could be a name to watch out for this summer if the Memphis Grizzlies don’t make a deep playoff run. He noted that it would be a confusing trade, but one that is entirely possible in the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade.
“I’m constantly checking in with executives around trade deadline about what we saw, didn’t see, and what’s next. In this league, you are always on the lookout for who is the next wave of stars who are going to get dealt… Somebody on the blue said ‘Keep an eye on Ja this summer.’”
“They’re just deep enough into the Ja Morant life cycle, and also the Ja/Bane/Jackson Jr. grouping – they’re young enough and should have plenty of runway. But in this league, you never have as much runway as you think you’re going to have. Ja has obviously had some issues.”
“Everything has been fine for a while. Not to overplay stuff from a year and a half ago… At a certain point, teams will pivot. There’s always a little bit that is going on below the surface. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, I’m not saying it should happen. I am just saying it’s one of those things to keep an eye on if they were to flame out early.”
Trading Morant away would be a baffling move from the Grizzlies, as he is without a doubt their best player. And since returning to full health, he has played some phenomenal basketball and also kept his name clear of any off-court controversies, something that he was struggling with this time two years ago.
Ja Morant: Grizzlies Star For Life Or Next Star Move?
It is bizarre to think that the Grizzlies would even entertain offers for Ja Morant at this juncture. They have been doing quite well with Morant leading the team this season, currently sitting second in the Western Conference with a 36-18 record. Head coach Taylor Jenkins has done a sensational job with the squad he has, and has turned the Grizzlies around after a major down year.
Morant has been the star of the show, as many would expect him to be, averaging 20.7 points, 7.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field, 32.1% from beyond the arc, and 81.0% from the free-throw line.
Granted, these numbers are not at the All-Star level we have seen from him in the past. But it is important to remember that he is still just coming off a serious shoulder injury from December 2023 that forced him to cut his entire season short last year, and still hasn’t regained his full form.
On top of that, he has missed about 22 games this season, which makes it difficult for any player to keep a consistent level in the NBA. The Grizzlies might be looking at his current form and availability and wondering whether they should pull the trigger on a move so that they don’t end up keeping a player who is already declining.
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