TITLE: Ja Morant Unsure About Coach Tuomas Iisalo’s System, but Grizzlies Not Shopping Star Guard
SLUG: ja-morant-grizzlies-doubt-iisalo-system-trade-outlook
CONTENT:
Memphis guard Ja Morant remains unconvinced by head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s rotation strategy, the same approach that sparked a locker-room dispute and earned Morant a one-game suspension last week, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps.
ESPN reported that Morant continues to question Iisalo’s “mass-substitution” model, a tactic the coach used in Europe that swaps entire lineups every three or four minutes to keep players fresh. Such frequent changes are uncommon in the NBA, where star players typically log heavy minutes.
Through eight games, Morant is shooting 38.3 percent from the field and just 14 percent from three-point range, highlighting an awkward fit in the new scheme. “His system is based on having an elite guard who can get into the paint, and everything develops from that,” a European executive told ESPN. “It is not creating the expected advantages yet.”
Despite the friction, league sources told ESPN that a trade is improbable in the near term. Morant is viewed around the NBA as a borderline top-10 point guard, but few teams are actively pursuing a new primary ball-handler. A Western Conference assistant coach noted Morant’s value to Memphis extends off the court: “He sells shoes, he sells tickets, and he wants to play in Memphis when no one wants to.”
NBA insider Marc Stein offered the same assessment this week, stating the Grizzlies are in no rush to move their franchise cornerstone. If Memphis ever chooses a full rebuild, ESPN suggested that forward Jaren Jackson Jr. could join Morant in trade discussions, a scenario rival executives are monitoring with an eye on the talent-rich 2026 draft.
For now, the organization is focused on evaluating its roster rather than restructuring it.
Source: Hoops Wire
