It's hard to fathom reaching this point after Ja Morant made All-NBA Second Team in 2022 during his third season. Even though it is never easy to part ways with a player as beloved as Ja Morant, this year's NBA playoffs only made the looming decision to trade him simpler. It is time to move on this summer.
Selected second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, Ja Morant's rookie season filled a whole franchise and fanbase with hope. It wasn't long after that Morant landed on multiple All-Star teams and took the league by storm with his All-NBA nod in 2022.
His first three seasons as a Grizzly were supposed to be a launching point for a potentially legendary career in Memphis; unfortunately, a lot has gone wrong since then. Even though a Ja Morant trade did not materialize before this year's trade deadline, it feels like an inevitable outcome this offseason.
A trade is mainly about availability and offensive efficiency
Morant still has plenty left in the tank, as evidenced by performances such as the 76ers at home in December and the January victory against the Magic in London. Even in what could've been his last game as a Grizzly on January 21, in a home defeat to the Hawks, Ja Morant had 23 points, 12 assists, and 4 stocks (steals and blocks).
Unfortunately, Ja Morant is on the trade block largely due to availability and offensive efficiency. Over the last three seasons, Morant has appeared in just 79 of 246 possible regular-season games. Regardless of coaching and how strong or weak a roster is, it is simply an uphill climb to win without the #1 option consistently available.
Morant has never been an elite perimeter shooter, but the lack of a reliable jumpshot makes his recent decrease in rim pressure harder to overcome. What once made Morant so dangerous early on was how dominant of a paint scorer he was. Now, with a lessened ability to score inside paired with a jump shot that hasn't evolved, it's hard for Morant to have the same offensive impact he once did.
Morant appeared in just 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on career lows of 41% from the field and 23.5% from behind the arc. Morant's efficiency both inside and outside the arc has decreased the last three seasons despite improved free throw shooting.
Even though his trade value has decreased, Morant has two years and $87 million left on his current deal. Regardless of the return in any potential trade package, now feels like the perfect time to move on as the team pivots towards a new core.
The Grizzlies simply needed a new core to build around
One of the biggest challenges that will define the success of the Grizzlies' next rebuild is how successful they are in finding a truly defined #1 option. Even though the hope was for Morant to be at that point right now, it is looking like that Morant will be on another team next season instead of leading the next rebuild.
A lot can be said about roster construction and coaching, but the once promising core of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. did not live up to expectations after a promising 2021/22 breakthrough season. The 51-point loss in Game 1 to the Thunder in the 2025 first round was a strong warning sign that the core wasn't close to winning the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies dealt Desmond Bane last summer and even moved on from Jaren Jackson Jr. despite giving him an extension. Before trading Jackson Jr. at this year's deadline, it was rather evident that the team was well behind the Spurs and Thunder, even if the team had a healthy regular season. While frustration is still understandably high, this year's playoffs showed the Grizzlies had to rebuild.
With the #3 overall pick and rising talents in Cedric Coward and Zach Edey, the Grizzlies are in a strong position to bounce back quickly despite potentially trading a fan favorite in Ja Morant. Ja Morant is one of the most talented players to wear a Grizzlies jersey, but this summer is now the right time for a fresh start.
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