With only a 6.3% probability, the Memphis Grizzlies secured the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. It was a fortunate break they used to selectJa Morant, who was considered less impactful than the top pick Zion Williamson, but still held promise as a future NBA star.
Without delay, Memphis closed the chapter on the iconic Grit'N'Grind era by trading Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz to clear the way for their emerging star.
With Jaren Jackson Jr, who had been acquired the previous year, Memphis—whose best achievement was a 2013 conference finals loss to the Spurs—began to aim higher.
TheWarriors' dynasty appeared to be declining, and it seemed the top spot in the West was within reach.
For three years, the Grizzlies held onto that belief.
A rapid ascent
The first season was cut short by COVID, and Memphis missed the playoffs, but Ja Morant still earned the Rookie of the Year award.
Yet, his true breakthrough came in his sophomore year.
Memphis finished eighth in the West, had to navigate the play-in tournament, where they faced none other than the Warriors for a playoff berth. No one expected Steph Curry and his team to lose a do-or-die game to such a young squad... but that’s exactly what occurred.
The Grizzlies delivered a remarkable performance, led byJa Morant , who scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and overtime—including the two baskets that clinched the victory.
This marked the emergence of a superstar: 35 points in a decisive contest.
The global press dubbed him "special." Although their playoff run ended in the first round, the excitement was genuine.
The next season, the Grizzlies advanced further, finishing second in the Western Conference and winning their first playoff series since 2015 against the Wolves. But the experienced Warriors took revenge and prevented Memphis from reaching the conference finals.
Still, Ja Morant was honored as Most Improved Player and earned his first All-Star selection.
Within just three years, he had established himself, and no one foresaw what lay ahead.
Not so "Fine in the West"
Admittedly, during the 2021/2022 season, Ja Morant missed 25 games, mainly due to two thigh injuries. However, it wasn’t a major worry, and although he missed half the playoff series against the Warriors, it helped explain the team’s loss.
The following season started strong, highlighted by an 11-game winning streak in mid-winter. But then things began to fall apart.
Just before Christmas Day 2022—Memphis’s first invitation to the event, a sign of their rapid progress—Ja Morant shocked in an interview with Malika Andrews of ESPN. When asked which NBA team concerned him, he replied "Celtics."
When questioned about any Western Conference threats, he famously said:"Nah, I'm fine in the West."
Less than three months later, everything unraveled.
Allegations arose accusing him of assaulting a 17-year-old boy, whom he then allegedly threatened with a firearm. Another incident involved his mother and entourage reportedly attacking a store security guard.
How did he react? Ja Morant made a poor decision—going live on Instagram while displaying a gun.
The consequence: an eight-game suspension from the Grizzlies, who still finished second in the West but were ousted in the first playoff round by the Lakers, with Morant hindered by a hand injury.
Some viewed it as karma, others as youthful errors, but the talent remained, and many expected a strong comeback. Instead, just 15 days after the playoff exit, he went live on Instagram again, flaunting another gun.
This time, the NBA had reached its limit—resulting in a 25-game suspension for the following season!
The 2023/2024 season began in December but lasted only nine games before a shoulder tear ended it.
The issues are mounting. In the most recent season, plagued by shoulder and knee problems, he played only 55 games, barely qualified for the playoffs through the play-in, only to be decisively defeated by the Thunder, the eventual champions and a model for rebuilding—much like the Grizzlies were three years ago.
In that series, Morant averaged just over 18 points.
Morant keeps digging
Three years of unstoppable rise, followed by three years of a steep decline. That sums up Ja Morant’s career and the recent trajectory of the Grizzlies.
Naturally, many wondered what he would look like in the new season, especially after the Grizzlies parted ways with coachTaylor Jenkins, who had been there since Morant arrived, and then traded Desmond Bane to Orlando for four first-round draft picks, signaling a potential rebuild.
The big question was how he would adapt to new head coach Tuomas Iisaloand the answer came quickly.
After only six games,Morant was suspended for one game.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, "the suspension followed a confrontation between Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo and Morant. Iisalo criticized his leadership and effort after the loss to the Lakers on Friday night—Morant responded in a way deemed inappropriate."
As usual in such cases, rumors began to circulate.
The Dallas Hoops Journal reported thatMorant "hates" playing for Iisalo; ClutchPoints claimed the All-Star never accepted Jenkins’ departure and refuses to respect his successor, blaming him for excessive lineup changes; and according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo, the two barely communicate anymore.
As a result, Memphis holds a 4-7 record,Morant is averaging below 20 points for the first time since his sophomore year, and with the West’s tough competition, it’s difficult to see this team achieving much this season.
A difficult choice
This brings us to a simple question— should the Grizzlies trade Ja Morant? The offseason trade of Desmond Bane seemed to open the door, as Memphis exchanged their number 3 pick for draft selections—a typical move for a rebuilding team.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic even reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves have expressed interest in the point guard.
On paper, aJa Morant - Anthony Edwards duo would be a big draw. On the court, it’s a different story and a topic of debate.
However, if Memphis put Morant on the market, offers would flood in.
Still, trading the player who has symbolized the franchise’s resurgence since his arrival is a decision beyond just the front office. One must consider the wider impact, the city itself—is Memphis tired of Ja Morant?
No, according to local sources, who say the point guard loves Memphis (he has never expressed a desire to be traded) and who likely want to calm tensions, as losing Morant could be catastrophic.
Memphis is a small market that inherited a franchise that failed in Vancouver. Since then, the Grizzlies have made significant progress, including that conference finals run, but they remain a team that struggles to attract free agents and won’t always contend for a title.
Ending theJa Morant era means beginning a rebuild, and although the Grizzlies were fortunate in the 2019 lottery, that luck might not happen again.
But since the Luka Doncictrade, nothing in the NBA is guaranteed.
Almost no player is untouchable now, and maybe Memphis is already discussing a deal. Morant’s value continues to decline, especially since the season started.
Not trading him means betting on his return to form to help rebuild a playoff-level team. That’s what everyone hopes for.
Sometimes trading a star is risky. But here, the real risk could be keeping him, given his downward trend since 2022.
For a small market like Memphis, the chances of acquiring another talent like this soon are very slim. IfJa Morant departs, the Grizzlies may face a long, difficult period. The franchise faces a pivotal decision for its future—will they choose wisely?
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