NBA superstar Ja Morant returned from his one game suspension to suit up for the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night against the Detroit Pistons. Memphis took another loss in a relatively close game ending 114-106. Morant struggled offensively with 18 points on a woeful 5 of 16 shooting from the field, but he did add in impressive 10 assists.
However, the bigger story comes from Morant’s post-game interview answering questions from the reporters.
Reporter: Do you feel like you got the same joy right now that we’re used to seeing with you?
Morant: No.
Reporter: Why not?
Morant: Mm.
Reporter: What can be done to get it back?
Morant: We’ll see.
Reading between the lines is part of every situation of an NBA player butting heads with the franchise they play for. Morant said more than most angry players do by not avoiding questions that he knows will provide a lot of chatter. The flat out “no” to being asked if he’s playing with joy confirms he’s not happy with the current Memphis situation.
Will Ja Morant Get Traded?
Memphis suspending Morant proved they are clearly not pleased with his behavior right now. Morant’s comments tonight confirmed that he’s not happy either and implied something must change for him to play with joy again. The Grizzlies have had to make big decisions regarding their future over the past few seasons.
Jaren Jackson Jr. received a long-term extension and started to get viewed as a cornerstone after winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Desmond Bane was traded to the Orlando Magic due to the franchise realizing they no longer value him as a long-term fixture for their best chance of winning at a high level.
Morant does have a track record of leading the team to wins when he’s on the court compared to losing when he’s not. However, a growing distance between the two parties may force the team’s hand. Morant is unhappy, and superstars usually get traded once the relationship with a franchise sours.
What Comes Next For Ja Morant?
The season numbers are down for Morant across the board from his usual stellar play. Morant is averaging 20.8 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. The shooting percentages of 40% from the field and a disastrous 16% from three-point range tell the bigger story.
Morant hitting the trade market would see Memphis having to settle for a less than stellar package due to rumors saying teams won’t offer everything for him. Franchises like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics could take a swing at hoping to add the missing piece for their core to reach the next level.
A rebuilding franchise like the Brooklyn Nets would make more sense than one thinks since they need to improve before losing rights to their draft pick next season. Morant’s best bet is to play his hardest for the Grizzlies and express his desire for a trade by the deadline if he’s still that unhappy. Both sides must get out of this relationship if the trust is no longer there for Morant to be the face of the franchise.
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