The Memphis Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Ja Morant is the last component of that squad remaining.
Morant may soon be leaving as well.
Following Sunday’s NBA Draft lottery, ESPN’s Michael C. Wright penned this statement about Morant in a fresh column:
Expect that future to be elsewhere.
He then elaborated on why he believes Morant will not remain in Memphis.
Memphis has already turned its attention to a new young core that includes shooting guard Cedric Coward, forward Jaylen Wells, and center Zach Edey, with the possibility of them playing in coach Tuomas Isalo’s odd style, according to Wright. At this stage, it appears the Grizzlies are just looking for the greatest bargain in a Morant trade, which is doubtful to be available until after the draft and free agency, when teams seeking stars consider secondary possibilities.
Morant’s off-court issues, injury difficulties, and disagreements with the coaching staff have all placed him in a position where staying with the Grizzlies no longer makes sense.
A prospective trading partner will have many questions to answer, but in the end, someone will take a chance on Morant’s talent and hope that the rest can be worked out.
The Grizzlies’ former No. 2 overall pick shot to fame quickly before encountering some stumbling blocks. It’s difficult to say how much of his greatest self Morant can recover, but it’s doubtful that Memphis is the squad that will stick around to find out.
They’ve done everything else they can to usher in a new era. They have just earned the No. 3 choice in the lottery. And when they trade Morant, they will be completely committed to a new beginning with enormous promise.
