It took all but seven games into the season for the NBA to have its first disgruntled superstar. Ja Morant, after beating the Phoenix Suns on a game-winning shot with seven seconds left, put up one of the most apathetic performances on an NBA court we have ever seen against the Los Angeles Lakers. Then he was suspended for one game for his postgame comments that were detrimental to the team.
And then, predictably, everyone raced to make trades for teams to try and get Ja Morant. The Phoenix Suns have made trades for Kevin Durant (disgruntled superstar), Bradley Beal (disgruntled superstar), and failed to trade for Jimmy Butler (disgruntled superstar) in the three seasons Mat Ishbia has owned the Suns.
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So naturally, the Suns make perfect sense for Morant to end up…
All it would take is Jalen Green, another salary, and a first round pick to get it done, so why not?
Let us look strictly at the on-court concerns first, before even looking at the off-court concerns.
While Morant is only 26 years old, he has declined in games played and points per game since 2021-22, when he averaged 27.4 points in 33.1 minutes per game. In the past two seasons, he has played a combined 59 games due to injury and suspensions. He is a career 31% 3-point shooter who needs the ball in his hands to be successful because he is not a threat off the ball.
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Even if the Suns could acquire him, are we sure he is a better fit with Booker over Jalen Green? Booker is a better point guard than Morant at this point in their careers.
Morant is in line to become the next John Wall or Russell Westbrook. Once these athletic guards lose even half a step of their athleticism, they become diminished versions of themselves because they do not have the skills to extend their careers as All-Star caliber players. Yes, Westbrook has gone on to be a good role player because of his elite effort, but even at his peak, no one looked at Morant and said his effort was ever “elite.”
Ishbia has mentioned in multiple interviews and press conferences this offseason about how the Suns are now an “ascending” team compared to previous seasons’ “descending” teams. If the Suns trade for Ja Morant, they are trading for a descending player, who perhaps could help them win a few more games the next two seasons, but would set them back even further long term on the court.
Now to the off-court concerns
Morant has been suspended multiple times for flashing a gun on Instagram and fined for making gun-related gestures in games. He has been suspended most recently for his performance against the Lakers and the postgame comments he made after. Not only that, but there have been other incidents that indicate Morant has even more character concerns.
Even if his on-court play was appealing, which I have already argued is not, is this someone that we as supporters of the team want to cheer for and watch night after night? Are you ready for the slight tinge of anxiety you will feel every time you click on Morant’s Instagram story?
I get it, the Suns have a very flawed roster, and the allure of trading for a superstar player is hard not to be transfixed by. But the Suns are finally fun to watch again and are moving in the right direction for the first time in years.
We are two weeks into the season and only beginning to establish a new culture and identity for the franchise. Let’s not rush to trade for a superstar player that could set us back, with a disgruntled superstar that does not fit what the Suns organization says they want to be in the future.