Grizzlies Field Trade Offers for Ja Morant
Reports suggest that Ja Morant’s tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies may be nearing its conclusion. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are exploring trade offers for the two-time All-Star. This speculation comes amid a challenging season for the team, which currently sits five games below .500 and outside the playoff picture.
Grizzlies’ Struggles and Morant’s Performance
This season has been particularly difficult for Morant. He has struggled with injuries and off-court issues. Morant missed 10 games due to a calf strain and faced a one-game suspension on November 1 for conduct detrimental to the team. Following a game, he made controversial comments regarding his playing time, saying “go ask them” about the coaching staff.
Season Statistics
Despite his talent, Morant’s performance this year has dipped significantly. In 18 games, he is averaging:
- 19 points per game (his lowest since his rookie year)
- 3.2 rebounds
- 7.6 assists
His shooting percentages are also concerning, with just 40.1% from the field and 20.8% from three-point range, despite averaging 4.3 attempts per game.
Historical Availability and Contract Situation
Throughout his career, Morant has faced availability issues. He has never played more than 67 games in a season. Since his last All-Star selection during the 2022-23 campaign, he has participated in only 77 games.
Morant is currently on a significant contract, which is the third year of a five-year agreement worth $197.2 million. Should the Grizzlies decide to trade him, they are reportedly looking for draft picks and young players in return.
Future Possibilities
While the Grizzlies are considering multiple options for the future, they also remain open to the possibility of retaining Morant, according to Charania. The upcoming decisions will significantly impact the team’s direction moving forward.
