Yahoo Sports Daily host Caroline Fenton discusses whether the Memphis Grizzlies are better with Ja Morant on the bench. Watch the full episode of Yahoo Sports Daily on YouTube or YahooSports.TV.
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Video Transcript
When the Grizzlies have Ja Morant on court, they are five and nine.
When the Grizzlies do not have Ja Morant available, they’re 8 and 5.
Look, I am always incredibly hesitant to say that teams are better without their superstar.
There was maybe some commentary about, “Are the Spurs better without Wemby?”
That’s ridiculous.
I would never make that claim.
But I think we can make a legitimate claim.
The Grizzlies are better off without Ja Morant.
And it’s not just the win- and loss-column, Although the win and loss column variance with and without Ja is pretty staggering.
It’s not just about basketball.
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You can see a healthier team dynamic when Ja is Not on the court.
No longer does the entire team revolve around One guy.
No longer does everyone in that organization Have to wait with bated breath for Ja Morant to do something stupid.
To say something dumb that gets into the headlines, to do something dumb that gets him Suspended, or to say or to do something that paints the Memphis Grizzlies in a bad light.
And it is fair to say, “Ah, the Grizzlies should be very hesitant to move on from Ja” Morant, because in a market like Memphis, they need a superstar.”
Uh, I would argue, well, what you need to do first and foremost is win basketball games.
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They’ve been doing more of that without without Ja than with Ja.
And if you say you need a superstar, Jaren Jackson Jr. May just be the closest thing they have to a superstar.
Last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, 28 points.
12 boards, three blocks, and a steal.
He limited Julius Randle to just 9 of 21 From the field.
Jaren Jackson Jr.
He is the leading scorer on that team.
And sure, He doesn’t dominate headlines the same way that Ja Morant does.
But you know what he does do?
Help this basketball team win games.
And that should be the number one prerogative for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Would it be a hard tre- a trade to make and a hard sell?
For sure, 100%.
But I feel pretty good.
Especially after beating a good team last night, the Memphis Grizzlies are better off without Him.