Trade Speculation Grows After Grizzlies Suspend Ja Morant
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MEMPHIS — Ja Morant’s future with the Memphis Grizzlies is increasingly uncertain after the organization suspended the All-Star guard for one game on Sunday, Nov. 2. The team’s action came in response to Morant’s public frustration with the coaching staff following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in which he struggled on both ends of the floor.
The 26-year-old returned Monday against Detroit but managed only 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting and committed five turnovers. Pistons guard Cade Cunningham scored 19 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to seal Memphis’ second straight defeat. Asked postgame whether he was enjoying basketball, Morant replied, “No.”
Morant, selected second overall in the 2019 draft, burst onto the league scene as one of the NBA’s premier point guards. His career trajectory, however, has been disrupted by off-court issues and injuries. The league suspended him twice in 2023 for displaying firearms on social media, and a torn labrum in his right shoulder limited him to nine games in 2023-24. An ankle injury restricted him to 50 appearances last season, and he has not played more than 63 regular-season games since his rookie year.
Memphis reached the Western Conference semifinals in 2021-22, but the club has exited in the first round in three of the past four seasons, including a 27-55 campaign when Morant was sidelined for most of the schedule.
League sources say the possibility of a trade has circulated for some time. Marc Stein recently reported that rival front offices are monitoring Memphis’ plans, while ESPN’s Marc Spears noted Tuesday that executives he contacted showed little interest in acquiring Morant because of his off-court history and contract. Four executives told Spears they had “no interest,” and one coach said he was “not sure” he would want to work with the guard.
Morant is in year three of a five-year, $197.22 million deal that still has two seasons remaining and includes a 15 percent trade bonus. Any team considering a move would need to view him as a title-deciding addition and believe a new environment could spark a more focused approach.
Source: Hoops Rumors
