The Ja Morant era appears to be heading toward a bitter end for the Memphis Grizzlies. The polarizing point guard has found himself in something of a public feud with head coach Tuomas Iisalo after the two traded barbs and the All-Star was handed a one-game suspension for taking his complaints public.
If the latest rumors prove true, then there's a realistic possibility that Morant is currently playing his final season with the Grizzlies.
Morant's tenure with the Grizzlies has been the epitome of polarizing, as the highs have united fans in a state of blissful optimism and the lows have been agonizingly dramatic. Between injuries and public-facing off-court conficts, Morant has missed considerable time. That trend continued with the aforementioned one-game suspension.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Grizzlies have backed Iisalo in the dispute with Morant, thus causing many around the NBA to question if a trade may be bordering on imminent.
"With the decision to sanction Morant for both his response to Iisalo's criticism behind closed doors as well as Morant's "go ask the coaching staff" broadside voiced Friday night to the media in a brief postgame interview at his locker, Kleiman has very publicly backed his coach in this dispute. Was that just a one-time thing? That is among the questions circulating with gusto as we speak in rival front offices."
If the growing intrigue in Memphis becomes something more tangible, then the future of Morant's career may ultimately be played elsewhere.
Grizzlies back Iisalo, rivals question if Ja Morant will be traded
Morant is one of the best point guards and overall players in the NBA today. He won Rookie of the Year in 2019-20 and Most Improved Player in 2021-22, earned an All-NBA Second Team nod during the latter season, and has made a pair of All-Star Game appearances.
Unfortunately, Morant also missed 25 games in 2021-22, 21 in 2022-23, 73 in 2023-24, and 32 in 2024-25—an unfortunate truth the Grizzlies can't afford to completely disregard.
It's been two completed seasons since Morant last played at least 60 games, and the calendar will soon flip to make it three years since he was most recently an All-Star. His quality of play remains tremendous when available, but a lack of availability is at the root of many of the issues in Memphis.
Memphis was a 56-win force on the rise in 2021-22, but has spent the past three seasons attempting to cover up for Morant's absences—an endeavor that's produced surprisingly strong results.
Memphis went 51-31 in 2022-23 despite playing 21 games without its All-NBA point guard. It stumbled to 27-55 in 2023-24, when Morant missed 73 games, but responded by going 48-34 in 2024-25 despite playing another 32 outings without their top scorer and playmaker.
The Grizzlies have thus found themselves in the unenviable position of having to decide if one of the most dynamic players on the planet is someone they can continue building with.
Rival executives question if Grizzlies still view Ja Morant as franchise star
Memphis has set the standard for drafting in recent seasons, turning picks both within and beyond the lottery into meaningful talent. It made a clear commitment to a future that revolves around that ability when it traded star shooting guard Desmond Bane for four unprotected first-round draft picks and a pick swap.
It committed to its current core, however, when it signed two-time All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to a five-year, $240 million contract extension.
The latter development would seemingly imply that Morant factors into the Grizzlies' long-term plans. His contract is also fully guaranteed through 2028, which certainly paints the picture of a player whose future is tied to their current organization.
Per Stein's aforementioned report, however, speculation has persisted since the 2025 NBA Draft that the Grizzlies no longer view Morant as their franchise player.
"...the truth is that Morant's future has been must-monitor going back to the June draft and the buildup to it. That is when rumbles started to circulate in earnest that the contract extension Morant was eligible for this past offseason would not be offered … and that this team might no longer revolve around him."
If true, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Grizzlies are looking to trade Morant. They may simply view him as a key contributor rather than the focal point of what they're hoping to build. After six years as the franchise player, however, Stein's report would represent a massive shift in priorities.
If the Grizzlies can't repair the relationship between Iisalo and Morant, then all signs point to a trade that would've once felt a decade too soon.