It wasn't long ago NBA communities were talking about Ja Morant as a potential "face of the league" type of force. Now, he's putting up career lows in minutes played, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and he's averaging his lowest point total since his rookie season. As all this unfolds, the Memphis Grizzlies may very well be looking at the Trae Young trade rumors and thinking that they should have traded Morant when his value was higher.
Of course, Memphis isn't completely done with Ja, but his presence has never felt like it mattered less than it does right now. What we're seeing with Young is that the Atlanta Hawks likely aren't going to get very much in a potential trade for him due to his value going down over time. Now, that could easily be the same situation the Grizzlies are creating with Morant by not dealing him in past seasons when teams were desperate to acquire his talent.
Injury concerns, a changing offense, and suspensions have all played into Morant seemingly falling off from the level of player he was three to four years ago. Memphis has weathered stretches without him, and the roster has grown more comfortable functioning without him as the unquestioned centerpiece.
Part of this shift comes from the Grizzlies’ roster changes. This team has lost nearly all of its bench pieces from that promising 2021-22 season, and now even Morant's right hand man in Desmond Bane resides in Orlando. Memphis is clearly building a new identity on the fly while trying to remain competitive.
The Grizzlies already missed their best chance to trade Ja Morant
This is where the comparison to Atlanta’s situation with Trae Young becomes clearer. The Hawks have been hesitant to pull the trigger on certain star swaps, but set themselves up for disappointment when later down the line, other teams weren't as interested as they were earlier.
Memphis, by not moving Morant when his value was objectively higher, could be setting itself up for a similar story of regret. Ja may still be in the Grizzlies’ long-term plans, but value is fleeting in the NBA, and teams have to recognize trends when they see them.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have shown they can compete without number 12. This team clearly has a growing identity that is far less tied to Morant than it was in years past, and losing him would not be nearly the death sentence it would have been back in 2022.
Fans have begun to wonder whether it makes sense to refinance the core around Jaren Jackson Jr. and exciting youngsters like Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells, rather than waiting for Morant to return to his peak. If the Grizzlies do decide to move on from Ja, they might soon realize that they missed a far more ideal window to move their star.