Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies are fighting on main. 1-game suspension, less than 2 weeks into the season. Tuomas Iisalo, the second head coach to lose Morant’s focus in the year 2025.
Ja, currently shooting 38% from the field and 14% from 3,
Yuck.
Quit on the team on national television against the Los Angeles Lakers—refusing to play defense, participate in the offense past chucking lazy bricks everyone in the arena knew was going off the side of the backboard—and forcing Memphis to play 4-on-5 whenever he was on the court—hands in his pockets, kicking the dirt like Charlie Brown, pissed Lucy once again moved the football.
Ja Morant doesn’t want to be in Memphis.
He’s not even trying.
On Wednesday night, the Grizzlies lost to the Rockets in a 124-109 beatdown. Morant scored 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting from the field and was 1-for-7 from 3.
Well, I hope Ja isn’t trying.
The alternative? Ja just sucks and is letting his frustration out on the organization instead of his opponents.
Either way, it’s over in Tennessee.
Memphis isn’t winning shit when their best player
So lets run through some Ja Morant trade ideas.
Honorable Mention
Ja to the Kings
In an article titled “Spicy” trade ideas, I’d be stealing your time if I wrote about the Kings.
The spiciest Sacramento export is Greta Gerwig—and she made Frances Ha—a film completely void of spice.
Sure, swap Ja and LaVine or DeRozan or whatever. Who cares?
Okay, so let’s get into the real spicy Ja Morant trades:
1. New Orleans Pelicans
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Ja Morant
This one’s easy.
Won’t even take long here.
The two players have the same contracts and the same inability to consistently remain on the court (physically or mentally).
Zion never stood a chance to succeed in New Orleans.
You can’t be out here playing with hearts in the home of voodoo.
Just a lesson for everyone: you cannot be a player when the girls you’re playing are one strip mall away from ancient witchcraft. (I’m looking right at you, Dejounte.)
Zion will be safe in Memphis.
Ja Morant, Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen vs. Everyone. Giddy up.
2. Brooklyn Nets
Memphis receives: Michael Porter Jr, Cam Thomas
Brooklyn receives: Ja Morant, GG Jackson, 2027 First Round Pick
If Ja Morant wants an entire organization to serve as his royal kingdom—to be tyrannically ruled under his iron fist—the Nets have a nice piece of land in NYC with a bunch of kids on the roster who won’t talk back—a GM who’s lucky to still checks on the 1st and 15th—and a fanbase starved of witnessing meaningful basketball games.
It’ll cost Memphis a first, though. You cannot acquire two guys averaging 20+ for one guy trending away from the feat without giving up draft capital. Memphis competes for a Top 6 seed in the West—today—if they gain MPJ’s shooting and Cam Thomas’s ballhandling. They’ll rebuild a bigger, better Ja.
3. Houston Rockets
Memphis receives: Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Ja’Sean Tate
Houston receives Ja Morant
Hey man, I’ll be honest, the Houston Rockets are way better than I thought they’d be.
I thought they’d be fine.
Like, a .500 team.
Old man Kevin Durant would tank their defense and the loss of Fred VanVleet would drag their half-court offense into the stone ages.
Totally forgot Kevin Durant is one of the best basketball players ever and Fred VanVleet sucks.
But as much as I underplayed the talent in the Rockets locker room, when the games matter most, they will need a point guard who can successfully dribble through a full-court press.
That player does not presently exist on their roster.
Reed Sheppard, bless his heart—trying his best but oftentimes looks like someone’s child snuck onto the court.
FVV, Reed and Ja’Sean Tate, 3 players not doing much for Houston—in exchange for a perennial All-Star point guard who can singlehandedly improve a Rockets team ranked 28th in pace.
4. Chicago Bulls
Memphis receives: Zach Collins, Patrick Williams, Coby White
Chicago receives: Ja Morant, John Konchar, GG Jackson
I understand Ja Morant wants an escape from a situation in which the head coach prioritizes ball movement and even distribution of minutes and shot attempts, to Ja’s dismay—and I understand the Bulls instantly improved the second they removed a ball-dominant guard who turned into a toddler when things didn’t go his way.
But let’s get fucking spicy.
The Chicago Bulls are playing like the best team in the East right now.
Out of nowhere.
They’re like the Indianapolis Colts of the NBA.
And the Indianapolis Colts just gave up two future first-round picks for Sauce Gardner.
When you’re in pole position, you can maintain speed, hoping no one catches up to you or you can press the nos.
The Bulls are in first place without Zach Collins or Coby White playing a single minute.
They lose nothing replacing Patrick Williams with Ja Morant.
Team chemistry will be healed by winning.
Ja joining a franchise with just better players and a better head coach, and most importantly, a genuine shot at an NBA Finals run—we could see him play serious, focused basketball for the first time in years.
Thanks for reading.
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