It is BEYOND Time for Grizzlies to move on from Ja.

The Memphis Grizzlies and their fans thought that with drafting Ja Morant #2 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft they were getting their Franchise player.

While Morant showcases his explosive abilities whenever he is healthy for the Bluff City Bears, his explosive personality and off-court issues may be the reason his career could blow up. Not in a good way.

The former Murray State standout, who has only played 12 games this season, has not convinced me that the Grizzlies should wait around for him to get his act together and should be actively shopping Morant to maximize the return on their “investment” now, and not allowing him to walk in free agency while he rides out his time on the bench due to “injury”, legal troubles, or his attitude.

In his 12 games played Morant is averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, has a 35.9% FG%, and is shooting a whopping 16.7% from the three point line and averaging 3.8 turnovers per game on 28.8 minutes per game.

The legal troubles that follow Morant are no secret. In 2022, teenager Joshua Holloway, threw a basketball at Morant, leading to a physical confrontation where Morant punched Holloway. The lawsuit was delayed and is set to continue with a self-defense immunity hearing scheduled for December 10, 2025. The case has been complicated due to various motions along with changes in legal representation.

As if the lawsuits weren’t enough of a distraction, Morant has been suspended from the team for, “conduct detrimental to the team.”. He was recently suspended for a game following a post-game exchange with Grizzlies Head Coach, Tuomas Iisalo, where Morant’s responses to questions about his performance were deemed as inappropriate.

Between his inability to be a team player, the pouting when he doesn’t get his way, and how he distances himself from the team when things go wrong, the writing has been on the wall for a while.

The final nail in the coffin for me was the verbal altercation with Klay Thompson.

Ja, who wasn’t even active for the game against the Dallas Mavericks, decided to come off the bench in street clothes, and point in Klay’s face talking trash. WHILE INACTIVE AND BEING ON THE BENCH IN STREET CLOTHES. Talking trash to an NBA Champion when you cannot stay healthy or stay out of trouble is absolutely insane and if I was Grizzlies management, I would’ve IMMEDIATELY traded him right then and there.

You cannot talk trash to guys literally playing in the game when the only uniform Grizzlies fans recognize you in is a hoodie and sweats.