The noise around Ja Morant has been building for months. From missed games and visible frustration to trade deadline whispers, the writing has been on the wall in Memphis for a while.
Now, it’s boiling over.
On Thursday, reports surfaced that Morant told people around the league he’s “done playing for Memphis,” a stunning development that aligns with growing belief that the Memphis Grizzlies will aggressively explore trading their former franchise cornerstone this offseason.
While the tension has been building for months, this is the clearest signal yet, from both Morant’s camp and the franchise itself, that his time in Memphis is nearing an end.
There was clear tension between the Grizzlies and Ja Morant at several points during the 2025–26 season, including his one-game suspension earlier in the year following a heated exchange with the coaching staff, something he reportedly still hasn’t gotten over.
There were also more subtle signs, including, after the suspension, Morant admitting he lost his joy for basketball.
Then came the injuries and absences.
Morant played just 20 games this season, the fewest of his seven-year NBA career, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists before being shut down with a UCL injury. It also marked his lowest scoring output since the 2020–21 season.
And it didn’t start this year. Over the last three seasons, he’s appeared in just 79 games, a staggering drop for a player once viewed as one of the league’s most electric stars.
Memphis, meanwhile, quietly explored trade scenarios at the deadline and has long been expected to revisit those conversations this offseason after failing to find a deal earlier in the year.
In fact, multiple league executives now believe Morant will be moved this summer, with expectations that “several desperate teams” could enter the sweepstakes.
Previously, Morant’s trade value was relatively low. Reports indicated only mild interest from teams like the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat at the deadline.
But a public stance from both sides, if these reports hold, instantly reshapes the market.
Teams that were once hesitant may now see an opportunity to buy low on a 26-year-old, two-time All-Star still under a five-year, $197 million deal, with an average annual value (AAV) that could quickly look like a bargain as NBA contracts continue to climb.
It’s easy to forget just how dominant Morant was early in his career.
After being selected No. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, he captured Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 17.8 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 47.7% from the field.
By 2022, he had taken another leap, earning his first All-Star nod behind a career-high 27.4 points per game to go along with 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 49.3% and leading the Grizzlies to a 56–26 record and their first Southwest Division title in franchise history.
He followed that up with another All-Star season in 2022–23, posting 26.2 points per game while setting career highs in assists (8.1) and rebounds (5.9), anchoring another 50-win campaign in Memphis.
But that’s where things began to unravel.
Despite the tension and declining availability, Morant remains one of the most explosive guards of his generation.
At his peak, he was must-watch TV: poster dunks, late-game heroics, and playoff performances north of 30 points per game.
Most importantly, he helped turn Memphis into a legitimate Western Conference threat, something fans hadn’t seen in years.
And for a player who arguably hasn’t even entered his prime, it’s easy to see why there could be a wide field of suitors this summer.