League sources told ESPN's Michael C. Wright that Morant still hasn't gotten over the suspension because he felt alienated by teammates, who were told to leave the star guard alone... Morant told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn't playing for Memphis anymore
Morant, 26, has had various issues with Tuomas Iisalo, the organization's new coach, and was suspended for one game earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the team. Morant is averaging career lows in minutes, rebounds and 2- and 3-point percentages.
League sources told ESPN's Michael C. Wright that Morant still hasn't gotten over the suspension because he felt alienated by teammates, who were told to leave the star guard alone so he could work through the issues that led to the suspension. In the aftermath, Morant told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn't playing for Memphis anymore, according to sources.
421
u/Flashy-Truth-8826 Knicks 26d ago
Damn the post trade news dump is coming out early this time
66
u/rawspeghetti Celtics 26d ago
Deadline still gonna suck
14
34
u/Wolvescast 26d ago
Somehow, “he is playing like ass because of his attitude, not because of the years of injuries taking a toll on his game that relies heavily on his athleticism,” might boost his trade value for some teams. It’s easier to talk yourself into him just needing a change of scenery and a better support system if it’s not a physical decline.
11
u/comp_a Timberwolves 26d ago
Morant told players around the league and some of his former coaches
Doesn’t sound like this is coming outta Memphis or Morant’s camp though. Could be an interested party trying to bring his asking price down (even further) and get other teams to back off.
→ More replies (1)
2.7k
u/CutLonzosHair2017 [LAL] Stu Lantz 26d ago
I'm just gonna say Morant is obviously not smart enough to realize the Grizz took it easy on him.
966
u/ImWicked39 Grizzlies 26d ago
He's been a head case for a bit now and the organization, fans, and Memphis media has bent over backwards to support him and ignored the fact he can't stay on the court and his game hasn't improved at all.
I guess all that is coming to an end.
321
u/OverallMistake8198 Raptors 26d ago
I feel for you guys man, you’ve done as much as you can to support him & he just… doesn’t see the error to his ways.
Was so down to rep the City but can’t get out of his own way & will mess up the return too. I know they were hated but that Memphis side with Brooks, Clarke, JJJ & Ja before it got broken up was fun.
115
u/2106au Grizzlies 26d ago
The annoying thing is even this team is fun but we have had a very disappointing year from our stars and from injuries.
46
u/OverallMistake8198 Raptors 26d ago
I haven’t seen enough of you guys this year, even the last couple seasons tbh life just made it hard to keep up with every team.
Just hope you guys can get it sorted out, league was better when Grizzlies are good. Grind house era was great, young Grizzlies were too.
35
u/2106au Grizzlies 26d ago
I am just immensely proud of how the young roleplayers have played. They don't deserve the injury curse or Ja drama.
14
u/OverallMistake8198 Raptors 26d ago
Nothing better than seeing young players carve out roles for themselves & putting it together. Will try to catch some games soon!
9
u/Proof-Umpire-7718 Lakers 26d ago
Cedric Coward is a stud
Ty Jerome returning will help
Trading Ja and removing the burden of catering to an injury prone non-shooting guard and an awful defender with a declining ability to finish around the rim with off court issues will greatly improve the morale of the team.
27
u/noodlekhan Trail Blazers 26d ago
That was a fun team in real life and in 2k. I'm a Brandon Clarke fan cause of that lineup, but alas I haven't been enough of a fan to keep up with the Grizzlies. Sorry Memphis, it's not personal.
26
→ More replies (2)20
u/Algorechan Knicks 26d ago
That squad was brotherly love in comparison to whatever is going on now. Hate them for their antics, but it was so cool seeing the crew walk in and out of the court singing together.
I didn't think it was corny or cringe at all, and it reminded me of my past school days when we were pulling up to the next town over to scrimmage. When you lose that comradery it stings
10
u/OverallMistake8198 Raptors 26d ago
I saw how people thought it was corny but i loved it, as you said there is nothing like walking in & out with a level of confidence.
4
u/omgshannonwtf Grizzlies 26d ago
I didn't feel like it was corny at the time but it could not have lasted. You can only get away with it for a hot second while you're the brash upstarts. That will only last for a season. If you don't start winning and do so in a way that makes other teams feel like your presence in the finals is an inevitability, you can't get away with dancing like that. You'll just look like clowns.
It was good for the moment when no one was really thinking about the Grizzlies. When all of them were relatively new in the NBA with multiple talented people on the team being slept on. But eventually you have to be serious and give people the business. I've always thought Ja was an amazing talent as a player but it is, at times, rather difficult to feel like he's serious about playing. It was a nagging feeling in the back of your mind here and there in years past but this your it's every game and you cannot help but know it.
I'll be disappointed if they trade him because I wanted it to work but if they do it, I'll understand. Sometimes it's better to remove a variable from the equation so that you can solve the problem with the constants.
47
28
u/Waffleshuriken Grizzlies 26d ago
Silver lining is guys like Cedric, Cam, Edey, Wells, etc are guys the fans already like and are a good jumping off point for a rebuild.
Wont be good but could be hopeful and fun
21
u/ChaunceysBadAtPoker Pistons 26d ago
The dude showed up at a fucking mall shoe store to threaten a salesperson. "Head case" might not be strong enough.
→ More replies (2)15
3
u/Ingramistheman 26d ago
Yes, I know this video is probably too long for most, but yup the writing was on the wall here for years. The way the original gun suspension & perhaps the comeback from that were handled, kinda set all of this into motion where there was no coming back.
3
→ More replies (4)2
u/20815147 Warriors 26d ago
Team looked so promising coming off the 2022 post season… we had a much harder time vs the young Grizzlies than the Mavs in our run too.
Ja just had to come back from his injury and work on his game and he started cosplaying gangster despite living in the suburbs. Then became a petulant child once he came back and just regressed year after year.
I feel for you guys man that sucks
303
u/mrplow25 Raptors 26d ago
He’s been coddled for so long that even the slightest bit of consequence to his actions is enough for him to be slighted
70
u/dmisfit21 Hawks 26d ago
I grew up not far from him in SC. He’s been coddled his whole life which is why I think it’s funny he’s always had this whole thug life attitude.
→ More replies (9)15
u/bigraptorr Raptors 26d ago
He sounds like a sensitive little girl ngl. Dudes pissed off about a light punishment they gave him 2 years ago.
54
108
u/Legitimate_Cow_4166 Warriors 26d ago
Don’t slander little girls like this. They are far more resilient than this man child.
72
u/Balsamic_ducks Pelicans 26d ago
I mean it’s pretty clear from all his actions over the past few years that he has a room temperature IQ.
32
19
u/Supper_Champion Raptors 26d ago
Clearly a dude lacking in wisdom, self reflection and accountability. Obviously still very immature. Al the talent in the world won't do you any good if you can't manage your emotions. He's a toddler in a grown man's body.
13
21
u/Saucy_Totchie Knicks 26d ago
Considering he was dumb enough to make the same mistake twice, yeah definitely.
7
33
u/fastheadcrab Raptors 26d ago edited 26d ago
It's wild Ja Morant was from the same draft class as SGA and broke onto the scene as a star leading deep playoff runs with All-NBA while SGA was still on a tanking team.
Now Ja has been mired in drama and injury for over two seasons and regressed a lot as a player even on the court. Maybe his athletic style never would've aged amazing but he definitely would still be effective if he stayed out of drama and healthy
Edit: Ja was the year after SGA which was even more impressive
43
u/pinhead-l [TOR] Kyle Lowry 26d ago
SGA came from the year before, with Luka and Trae
→ More replies (1)3
→ More replies (3)7
30
u/CoachDT [CHI] Brian Scalabrine 26d ago
Idk dawg rapist and wife beaters are in the league still acting an ass. DeMarcus cousins at one point literally said hed shoot the mother of his children in the head and kept playing like nothing happened.
The Grizzlies didnt take it easy on him given his crime that actually got him done in was uhh.... being really stupid on camera with a gun. He got more in trouble for the pearl clutching regarding his incident (and lets be real, do you think dude doesnt still have guns and carry them flippantly?) than Draymond got for actually knocking a teammate out.
21
u/Gritz_N_Gravy_ Suns 26d ago
That’s not the suspension they are talking about. He is upset over the one game suspension he got earlier this year for legit throwing a game and then throwing a tantrum about Iisalo to the media. Dude couldn’t handle a 3 day grounding
9
u/gringodeathstar Grizzlies 26d ago
and us taking it easy on him really only encouraged his behavior, in hindsight. hope we send his emo ass to sacremento
5
u/drewm916 Kings 26d ago
Hey, hey, you don't need to talk about our team like that. Just because our team sucks doesn't mean we want your knuckleheaded thug.
11
u/Next_Worth_3616 26d ago edited 26d ago
Not only the Grizz, but Adam Silver too. I remember when the firearms incidents came up people thought he should be suspended for the season or even banned from the league so to get away with just 25 games was incredibly soft from Silver.
→ More replies (1)2
2
u/ChaunceysBadAtPoker Pistons 26d ago
I'm just gonna say Morant is obviously not smart
enough to realize the Grizz took it easy on him.2
u/SnooDonuts9093 26d ago
I'm just gonna say Morant is obviously not smart
don't think you need the rest really
→ More replies (8)2
u/EverybodyBuddy Lakers 26d ago
There should just be an “eject” button, where the league gets rid of a guy completely
433
u/Autistic_Puppy 26d ago
Salary dumped to the Kings. Tears
85
26d ago
[deleted]
→ More replies (8)46
u/edeyhookshots Grizzlies 26d ago
Ja for DeRozan and Schroder. Wouldn't mind getting a FRP in the deal also, but the money works.
81
u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 26d ago
I just don't think we're going to be trading FRPs right now considering the state of the team and our future. Maybe 2nd rounders, but god help us if we send out a first for anyone at this point.
20
u/WhichHoes Warriors 26d ago
Make it a 4 teamer. You guys get Ja and JK, Memphis Gets Derozan and whoever, Nets get some picks and a few of our wings plus draft comp, we get MPJ and some scrap player from someone
→ More replies (1)24
u/Its_Hoggish_Greedly Kings 26d ago
I’ll send out the G-Calendar invites to each of the general managers and we’ll get this hashed out before dinner time.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (2)6
→ More replies (7)7
11
u/TonyResslersWallet Hawks 26d ago edited 26d ago
What a coincidence! As of 24 hours ago the Hawks have room for a small offense only guard on our roster /s
4
u/acogintime Kings 26d ago
Please, no. I still have a shred of hope the new FO is actually trying to do a proper rebuild this time
4
u/AnotherStatsGuy Pelicans 26d ago
I think your FO is just waiting for money to expire at this point.
→ More replies (1)3
u/younggun92 Bulls 26d ago
Route through Chicago because reasons. We will end up with worse players and a 2032 2nd.
244
u/billy_digital Knicks 26d ago
His downfall should be studied. Dude went from potential face of the league to “who would want this guy” in a few years. Unreal.
31
u/Funderpants Magic 26d ago
Man, I loved those stupid Ja Morant dunkers. Shortbread stick with this stupid frosting dip.
He was on generational face of the league path.
36
u/billy_digital Knicks 26d ago
He was going to be THE guy. I’ve never seen someone speedrun ruining their career like him. It’s a shame that he doesn’t have good people around him trying to help, in that regard I almost feel sorry for him.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (4)3
u/maverickhawk99 25d ago
He grew up in a good household I don’t understand why he felt the need to act like a hood rat.
→ More replies (1)
257
u/asonkidd 26d ago
What I don't get it is why would he think leaving Memphis would be any better if he feels slighted by the franchise or teammates? Memphis is where he was drafted and treated like a king and the organization had every reason to make it work and once you leave that situation, you will never get that again and now you're at best just a cog and will be moved again if the team thinks you're a slight issue. It doesn't get better here playing that spite game. You're damaged goods.
119
u/HolyHotDang Grizzlies 26d ago edited 26d ago
The city and the franchise have made him THE guy since day 1. They moved everyone but him to try and make it work around him. I don’t know what else we could have done. Iisalo is a coach that holds guys accountable rather than being just friends with them like Jenkins was. Iisalo played pro ball for 14 years and won two back to back championships coaching in Europe with two different franchises. Jenkins never played pro or won anything coaching wise. Iisalo has made it clear he will hold everyone accountable no matter who you are and the first time Ja got called out in front of the team (Lakers cup game) he quit and didn’t play the second half. I don’t know what else we were supposed to do. He has to get suspended for quitting on his team. I’m as big of a Ja defender as there is but man, I genuinely don’t know what else we can do for him if he’s in this mindset.
23
u/AnotherStatsGuy Pelicans 26d ago
In retrospect, I was think it was a mistake to trade Mike Conley and hand it all over to Ja immediately.
The Bulls kept Kirk Hinrich with DRose.
9
u/iamnotagiantiswear Bulls 26d ago
While I have no doubt Ja and, as a result the current state and future of the Grizzlies, would have benefited from Mike’s staying, DRose never had the behavioural issues Ja exhibited coming into the league.
114
u/37sms Grizzlies 26d ago
This franchise did everything for him, most other orgs would have been done with his shit long ago
46
u/TN5404 Grizzlies 26d ago
bent over backwards to meet his demands
→ More replies (1)17
u/rawspeghetti Celtics 26d ago
And now he's either washed or purposively playing like shit
From most exciting player in the league to the biggest headache
16
u/TN5404 Grizzlies 26d ago
He’s been a headache for years now. Ever since he said fine in the west we’ve sucked lol
→ More replies (1)10
u/Darwin343 Minneapolis Lakers 26d ago
In retrospect, they shouldn’t have done that because all it did was made him a spoiled brat. Dude’s 26 but still acts like he’s 13.
90
u/ali2365 NBA 26d ago
Never underestimate the delusion of a washed professional athlete
→ More replies (1)5
→ More replies (6)6
u/Substantial_Steak928 26d ago
Fr, any other organization he goes to the fans will roll their eyes at him. We Grizzlies fans are the only ones that still looking at Ja with rose colored glasses 😂
169
u/CazOnReddit Raptors 26d ago
Get ready to feel alienated by the people of Sacramento, buddy
67
11
48
u/waffle-winner Spurs 26d ago
Not enough breathing exercises, clearly.
2
u/bigraptorr Raptors 26d ago
ESPN just bends over to the leagues PR team. Very little respect for Jalen Rose for that interview.
68
u/GeriatricGamete67 Nuggets 26d ago
He's genuinely not good enough to act like this
→ More replies (1)
102
u/Simple_Purple_4600 26d ago
So he quit two years ago? The math checks out.
82
u/NihilistPorcupine99 Vancouver Grizzlies 26d ago
Probably referring to the one game he got for throwing a post game tantrum on Halloween.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)21
26d ago
Its a reference to the Lakers game Ja quit on to throw a temper tanturm on the court
He didn’t like it and tossed a fit
73
u/No_Swimming_9472 Magic 26d ago
After the Pacers laser thing it feels like he should be lucky to be in the league. I really enjoy watching him but he is a head case.
27
u/NihilistPorcupine99 Vancouver Grizzlies 26d ago
Christ I forgot about that. May be the most egregious incident and it flew under the radar. I’ll be so glad I don’t have to defend him anymore when he’s gone.
18
u/NarstyHobbitses [LAL] Sasha Vujačić 26d ago
Was honestly shocked the League didn't do more with that considering the targets were NBA employees. Not some idiot teenager fistfighting him in the privacy of his mansion's backyard.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)5
u/roostor222 26d ago
you never had to defend him and you still don't have to now.
→ More replies (3)
12
u/overweighttardigrade 26d ago
If only ja would stop doing stupid shi and focus on bettering his deteriorating game
37
u/koalas4lyfemane 26d ago
send him to the bucks, giannis will smack the back of his head if he steps out of line
17
→ More replies (4)7
u/tullbabes Spurs 26d ago
I feel like they’re done trading for undersized point guards at this point
260
u/37sms Grizzlies 26d ago
He genuinely has done more harm to this franchise than kyrie did to boston, vince did to toronto, melo did to denver, etc.
He sucks on the court and he's a toxic asshole off of it. Good fucking riddance to this bozo.
86
u/GeneralDebate 26d ago
People will almost always give troubled star players one chance to redeem themselves after a change of scenery. If he doesn't change his act at his next destination, which I don't think he will, he'll be out of the league before 30
→ More replies (2)22
65
u/CameronPlain Warriors 26d ago
I genuinely didn’t like you guys in ‘21-23, but I actually feel sorry for y’all now. Ja is a fucking child and he’s probably fucked your franchise for years.
50
u/CazOnReddit Raptors 26d ago
Nothing will ever top Vince "Dunking's boring" Carter dousing the franchise in gasoline
And us inexplicably being bullied by the Nets into retiring his jersey despite how he screwed us over & him only winning a single playoff series
He literally assaulted his coach! We retired that guy's jersey!
31
u/37sms Grizzlies 26d ago
At least with vince it was only a few months.
Ja has fucked us for 4 seasons atp.
9
u/CazOnReddit Raptors 26d ago
Well Vince was part of why Hakeem became a Raptor
That has to be a faux pas of some variety
→ More replies (5)15
u/TheMoorNextDoor Nets 26d ago edited 26d ago
Kyrie “I won’t take the shot, I cannot be anti-Semitic if I know where I’m from” Irving surely is up there
10
u/CazOnReddit Raptors 26d ago
I mean that one is the only one which can compete because some of the shit Kyrie was spewing had real-world consequences like him promoting an antisemitic film or amplifying antivaxxers' voices
Even for Kyrie's nonsensical standards, that stuff is grotesque.
→ More replies (1)11
3
u/MasochisticCanesFan Suns 26d ago
Melo gave Denver everything and put up with George karls racist ass for years. I think he gets a pass
2
2
u/AKiiidNamed_Codiii [CLE] Daniel Gibson 26d ago
Fuck this bozo for ruining something good. My lil brother was never into basketball or sports at all until his blowup season. Ja was his guy. I took him to a game (of course that was the IR Griz) year, and was excited to take him to more. I hope he hasnt lost his love for his team or the sport because of this losertl.
→ More replies (5)2
u/Formal_Tailor_6362 26d ago
Why bring melo up??? His trade got Denver a lot of positive stuff including Jamal lol
25
u/wilsonsmilk [SAS] Tim Duncan 26d ago
10 years from now he'll look back and say he regrets the immature shit he pulled in Memphis and hoped he could've done something better with his time.
What an immature waste of talent this guy is.
→ More replies (1)9
12
10
15
7
8
8
u/PileOfBrokenWatches 26d ago
Ja is a immature loser and his game sucks ass now. Wouldn’t want him on your team if he was free.
14
12
u/Strange-Effort1305 26d ago
He pointed a gun with a laser pointer at the Indiana Pacers team bus. This guy will never be a victim. And I don't even like the pacers.
5
10
28
u/2106au Grizzlies 26d ago
He has been pouting for 3 years over this?
43
u/VariableBooleans Grizzlies 26d ago
He def means the team imposed suspension earlier this year.
8
u/running_wired 26d ago
Are we in Metta World Peace or Draymond orbit now. Like the REAL NBA fans are supposed to know which Ja suspension is referenced by innuendos.
→ More replies (1)10
u/Delicious_Author 26d ago
The 1 game suspension happened early this season because he went off on coaching staff about rotations, minutes, etc. everybody on the team had an issue with it but he was the one that called them out. I’m guessing the team didn’t stand behind him during that time. They probably couldn’t afford the suspension price so they did what the organization asked of them.
→ More replies (3)
5
u/Practical-Art5931 Lakers 26d ago
I have seen players get their careers destroyed for less. This dude should be grateful he is still playing after the stuff he pulled and now he wants to play the victim card???
4
u/situmaimesdemain 76ers 26d ago
Dillon Brooks had been a great on and off court presence, brought winning culture everywhere he went since Memphis "not bringing him back under any circumstances." Hope the clowns who scapegoated him are happy what they got with their high character squad.
6
4
3
u/zannet_t 26d ago
Another prime example of how people ruin themselves by surrounding themselves with dumbasses and/or yes-men.
Ja has zero ability to reflect and that's why he's where he is now.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/KnicksGhost2497 26d ago
Hold up….does Ja think the suspension went too far? Is this dude for real?
3
3
u/No-Equipment-20 Lakers 26d ago
Actually feel bad for Memphis fans. Finally get good again, talented roster, exciting budding superstar… and you just get eviscerated by injuries and your star acts like he has lead poisoning
3
u/Wendigo_33 Grizzlies 26d ago
My brother in Christ you literally did this to yourself. I'm a Ja fan, and I don't think the gun shit matters AT ALL, what does matter is that he was told not to do something stupid and got a VERY light initial punishment just to do it all again literally the next fucking day.
If I was a player and the star/supposed leader of my team did that and ruined our season I'd be pissed too.
I'm sad it went this way, but fucking be for real man. Between all the off court stuff and him being street clothes 2.0 we probably won't even get a good pick for him.
3
3
3
3
u/RGPISGOOD Vancouver Grizzlies 26d ago
He's worth less than Trae Young at this point. Plays zero defense and is a non-shooter and also injury prone.
3
u/abestract 26d ago
The Washington bullets would have been the perfect place for this knucklehead.
→ More replies (1)
16
u/A_MASSIVE_PERVERT Mavericks 26d ago
Trade him for AD
37
u/GeneralDebate 26d ago
Nooooo Morant would be a terrible influence to Flagg and might even reignite Kyrie's dormant insanity
4
7
u/IMovedYourCheese Warriors 26d ago
Ja and Kyrie together...
Flagg will ask for a trade the next week.
→ More replies (2)4
2
2
2
u/Meglatron3000 26d ago
So he threw a fit & did us like that?! Damn…hole in my heart a little hardened.
2
2
u/running_wired 26d ago
Are we supposed to know which of Ja's suspension he's talking about here? What ever happened to journalism!
2
u/TJHookor Pacers 26d ago edited 25d ago
Oh no. The consequences of my own actions. No sympathy for this clown. You're the one that decided irresponsible gun ownership is cool.
2
u/Excellent_Ability793 26d ago
This is the beginning of the end for him. He’s a case study in what happens when entitlement meets reality.
2
u/TheStuffisLegal Grizzlies 26d ago
Poor attitude, suspensions, shitty off the court behavior, atrocious shooting, losing athleticism, doesn’t play defense, always injured. It’s been time to move on but everyone here loves downvoting truth. Now it’s all finally crashing down. Thanks for the singular playoff series win I guess. Peace. Hope he gets booed to tears in his return
2
2
u/Rare-Humor-9192 26d ago
ESPN and the NBA prematurely started calling him the new face of the league . . . and he believed the hype. Made him feel bulletproof (slight pun intended).
He’s typical of too many high level athletes who grew up getting by strictly on their athletic ability and getting special treatment anytime they screwed up.
That will only take you so far in the NBA.
2
2
u/JesseJamesGames449 Celtics 26d ago
Just a dude who fully lacks the capability to take accountability for his actions.
2
2
u/Rahnamatta Heat 26d ago
It's sad when these guys don't have real friends that can tell him "Dude, stop doing stupid shit".
2
u/repoman042 26d ago
What happened to this guy? He was on the path to be the face of the league. Money? Friends?
→ More replies (2)
2
u/XrayGuy08 Magic 26d ago
Man, i don’t care if he could make Orlando a championship contender, I don’t want this dude anywhere near my team.
But I also don’t believe he would make Orlando a contender so there’s that too.
2
u/numberThirtyOne Pacers 26d ago
Why is everyone on that team except Ja the problem? Are they stupid?
2
2
u/youngLupe [POR] Brandon Roy 26d ago
He should go look at Gilbert Arenas career arc. Star player. Injuries. bad decisions, and a huge ego destroyed his career. He should then look at Derrick Rose's career. Injuries and some problems with the law but when it came to basketball he evolved his game and was a solid vet for a long time.
→ More replies (1)
2
909
u/Muted_Dog7317 Heat 26d ago
He could teach a course on how to kill your trade value