AP
The Ja Morant noise isn’t going away, but the Grizzlies aren’t picking up the phone unless the offer is a no-brainer.
That’s the word from Matt Moore of FanSided, who says the franchise still wants to make things work with its 26-year-old star.
“Memphis is not willing to consider Ja Morant trades unless it’s a no-brainer (which no one is calling with), according to sources,” Moore wrote. “They want to make this work. Morant may have to force the issue if there is to be a trade.”
The Grizzlies are 4-10 and Morant has already served a one-game team suspension for conduct detrimental. He’s now out at least two weeks with a right calf strain.
Before the injury, Morant averaged 17.9 points, 7.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds on 35.9 percent shooting. He hasn’t looked like himself, and according to league sources who spoke with Dallas Hoops Journal, he “hates” playing for first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
Morant isn’t a fan of Iisalo’s short-shift rotations and mass subs, which have kept him from finding any sort of rhythm, sources said.
The relationship is described as “not good,” which adds another layer to a rocky start. Memphis moved on from Taylor Jenkins last season, handing the job to Iisalo after a coaching search.
Morant is in Year 3 of a five-year, $197.2 million extension and will make $39.4 million this season. He holds no trade clause and has never advanced beyond the second round in the playoffs.
League sources say neither he nor his camp has considered requesting a trade, even though Morant admitted recently that he hasn’t been playing with “joy.”
The former No. 2 pick owns career averages of 22.4 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds and remains one of the league’s top athletes. For now, Memphis is staying the course.
But the tension is there. And the clock is ticking.
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