There was a time when Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies were seen as the next great team in the NBA. Morant was seen as the one of the next superstars in the league, while Memphis had rebuilt the right way, and looked primed for contention.
Fast forward to 2025, and those days are long gone. Morant and the Grizzlies have gone from the face of contention to the face of dysfunction. From Morant’s suspension due to flashing a weapon on Instagram Live to his multitude of injuries to the firing of Taylor Jenkins last year, instability has been the name of the game for Memphis.
Fast forward to this season, and that has continued. Morant has been upset with his role, leading to cryptic postgame interviews. He and head coach Tuomas Iisalo are reportedly not seeing eye to eye, including when Iisalo called out the effort of his star after a loss to the Lakers.
Morant reportedly responded in a derogatory way, leading to a one-game suspension. After this latest episode, Morant’s future with the Grizzlies has never been clearer.
The Grizzlies will be better off without Ja Morant
Morant has been a shell of himself the last couple seasons. His rim numbers are down, he still can’t shoot the ball effectively, he is subpar defensively, and he simply doesn’t have the same burst that he had a couple years ago.
To start the year, Morant has been one of the least efficient starters in the league. He is shooting 39 percent from the field and a paltry 14 percent from three-point range. He’s taking bad shots and isn’t operating within the flow of the offense. Memphis actually has a better offensive rating when Morant sits (116.4), compared to when he is on the court (109.4).
Morant being upset about his lack of rhythm or consistent role cannot be backed up by poor on-court play. He has not been the elite player we have seen in the past and has not improved his weaknesses since entering the league. He has plateaued, and it’s time for the Grizzlies to move on.
Memphis has hit their ceiling with Morant
The Grizzlies have won one playoff series with Morant at the helm and that came in 2022. They are 7-15 overall with him in the postseason. In a tough Western Conference with up and coming teams, Memphis moving on from Morant would be the prudent move.
The Grizzlies already acquired four first-rounders in the Desmond Bane trade. They have a star big man in Jaren Jackson Jr. They have intriguing young wings in Jaylen Wells, and Cedric Coward. They have a solid supporting cast of role players in Santi Aldama, Vince Williams, and when they return, Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr.
Getting more picks in return for Morant would jumpstart a rebuild, and give both sides a much-needed fresh start. However, Memphis needs to act fast, before Morant continues to tank his value.
