An issue with a coach turned into a problem with his teammates.
And now Ja Morant’s days with the Grizzlies may be numbered.
Memphis’ polarizing guard felt “alienated” by his teammates following his one-game suspension by the team earlier this year, according to ESPN, and he ultimately told players and ex-coaches around the league that he wouldn’t play for the franchise anymore.
That may now become a possibility following the bombshell report Friday by ESPN that Memphis is entertaining offers for the seventh-year star.
Morant’s tenure with the Grizzlies has been up and down, featuring some successes on the court — although never past the conference semifinals — and plenty of off-the-court drama, including him twice being suspended for brandishing a weapon in videos seen on social media.
It appears his latest clash with the team may have been the breaking point.
The 26-year-old earned a one-game suspension in November for “conduct detrimental to the team” after criticizing Memphis’ new coaching staff led by Tuomas Iisalo following an Oct. 31 loss to the Lakers.
Morant responded to a postgame question about what went wrong in the 117-112 loss by saying, “Go ask the coaching staff,” and then later added about the game: “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s basically what the message was after.”
Iisalo challenged Morant’s leadership and effort following the game, per ESPN, and the guard responded “in a tone deemed inappropriate and dismissive.”
In its report on Friday, stating that Morant is available in trade talks, ESPN further noted that he has not moved past the suspension, in part because of how his teammates handled it.
He reportedly felt isolated by his teammates, who had been told to let him be while he worked through the actions that led to the team’s one-game ban.
Morant then later told folks around the league he wanted out, per the report.
He may get his wish if the Grizzlies find a partner, although his value is surely a debatable topic.
A package in prior years may have cost teams an astronomical amount, but Morant is averaging 19.0 points per game — the lowest since his rookie year — while sooting a career-worst 40.1 percent from the floor and a horrendous and career-low 20.8 percent from deep.
He is under contract for $42.2 million and $44.9 million spanning the next two seasons.
The NBA just featured a recent trade featuring a similar player in Trae Young whose stock dipped after a fast start, with the Hawks receiving two players back and no premium assets.
