The Memphis Grizzlies are at a crossroads, as trade chatter heats up around the star guard. Ja Morant was suspended for one game after calling out the coaching staff following a loss to the Lakers. Now, several teams, including the Kings, are reportedly keeping tabs on his situation. But according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Memphis is resisting the temptation to trade All-Star point guard Ja Morant.
Grizzlies Make Stance On Ja Morant Trade Clear After Viral Fallout With Head Coach
“Going full rebuild may be out of the question,” Mannix reported.
“And the Grizzlies don’t want to do that. They believe the Morant/Jaren Jackson Jr. tandem is the foundation of a contender. They believe a return to health–Memphis, already, has been decimated by injuries–will lead to wins. This isn’t a team looking to sell Morant. It’s one looking to use the assets it has–including the bag of first-round draft picks it acquired from Orlando in the Desmond Bane trade last summer–to add pieces around him.”
To Mannix’s point, Morant is universally considered to be among the game’s most illustrious players.
The 26-year-old possesses explosive athleticism, similar to that of Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose, the flair of Sacramento Kings point guard Russell Westbrook, and the knack for making clutch baskets, reminiscent of San Antonio Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox. He’s so dominant when he’s on top of his game that honing in on his jumper and defense is tantamount to looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Yet, he has his flaws, too. He also exhibits shades of Gilbert Arenas and Trae Young’s perceived negative characteristics. Arenas, a former NBA star, was given a season-ending suspension after bringing firearms into his team’s locker room; an incident that escalated into a Wild West-style standoff. Young, the star point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, has had routine run-ins with head coaches prior to their firing.
Morant was suspended for 33 games between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons due to conduct violations related to his unsafe use and promotion of firearms. Just this week, he was suspended for one game for making incendiary comments about the coaching staff after his team’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, which were considered detrimental conduct to the team.
If Morant can clean up his act on the court by becoming more professional, accountable, and team-oriented, he’s certainly much less of a high-maintenance player. Nevertheless, he’s just one of the Grizzlies’ key players that has problems staying on the court. He’s been suspended for 34 games combined in his NBA career and has missed 138 games since being drafted.
Since the 2019-20 season, Memphis is 76-91 without the former second overall pick, per StatMuse.
Of course, Morant isn’t the only Grizzlies player with concerns about durability. In April, Jaylen Wells sustained a fractured right wrist, bringing an end to his outstanding rookie campaign. 2024 No. 9 pick Zach Edey has been in and out of the lineup since being drafted and has yet to make his 2025-26 season debut. Before being traded in the 2025 offseason, former franchise building block Desmond Bane had a history of missing games.
Now, using the first-round picks they acquired from Bane, Memphis could very well look to make multiple minor upgrades. They could package multiple picks and salaries to obtain a higher-caliber player. However, those changes may look superficial until Morant’s ready to be the leader the Grizzlies need. Furthermore, with Morant taking a stance made infamous by Jimmy Butler during his fallout with the Miami Heat, none of this may matter anyway.
