NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN has reported via X that the Memphis Grizzlies are now open to dealing their franchise player, Ja Morant, after much speculation.
A Festering Frustration
Morant, known for his absurd athleticism, has in the past voiced out his frustrations over the situation in Memphis. After an early loss in November 2025, the 26-year-old superstar told reporters to “go ask the coaching staff” when asked about what went wrong in the game.
In another post-game interview, Morant looks clearly frustrated answering reporters. Then, when asked if internal relationships have been resolved, he replied: “Yeah. they told you that right? There you go. Obviously they [coaching staff] can’t go something [and] tell you something I ain’t say.”
When asked if he still got the same joy he had back then with his team, Morant bluntly answered, “No.”
Morant, of course, has also been suspended a couple of times for “conduct detrimental to the team.” That’s not to mention the high-flyer’s off-court gun-related controversy in 2023 that resulted in a prolonged suspension.
In other words, frustration was certainly boiling over on both sides.
An Exit from Grit and Grind
After Charania’s bombshell, Michael C. Wright reported in a since-deleted tweet on X that the two-time All-Star has “told players around the NBA and some of his former coaches that he isn’t playing for the Grizzlies anymore.”
It is the clearest indication so far that Morant is likely headed out of Memphis in the coming weeks, with both franchise and franchise player expressing willingness to move on from the apparently fractured partnership.
This season, Morant has put up 19.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists while playing in only 18 out of a possible 38 games as of this writing. He is also shooting a measly 40.1% from the field.
Where to Griddy next?
According to Charania, Memphis would “prioritize draft picks and young players in any deal.” And it appears there are quite a number of suitors already.
NBA scribe Evan Sidery has reported that the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks are both interested in potentially nabbing Morant. Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports said that the Houston Rockets would also like to pursue the services of the former Murray State standout.
Another Franchise Player on the Move
Should Morant get dealt, he will be the next superstar to move on from his original team. Just recently, fans saw Trae Young get traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Core Krispert. Just last season, Luka Doncic was shockingly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in a package that included Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and draft picks.
Between these two blockbuster deals, though, Young’s trade might approximate Morant’s situation a bit more closely: that of a smallish, disgruntled All-Star looking for a fresh start. That means it won’t be much of a surprise if Morant’s value is a bit lower than it was, say, a couple of years ago when the former second overall pick was tearing up the league.
Whatever the case maybe, this Morant-Memphis situation should bring high drama to an NBA season that’s already shaping up to be one unpredictable marathon.
