Ever since the Memphis Grizzlies selected Ja Morant with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, he has been the unquestioned star of the franchise. The explosive guard lived up to the hype, and alongside a promising young core, he helped pull the team into relevance, making Memphis a genuine threat in the Western Conference for several seasons. Now, that foundation appears to be cracking.
Why Do Rival Teams Believe a Trade Is Coming?
Unfortunately for Memphis, things have started to go wrong recently. The Grizzlies have struggled out of the gate in the 2025-26 campaign, posting a 4-10 record through their first 14 games. Additionally, rumors have circulated about a rift between Morant and Head Coach Tuomas Iisalo, leading many to speculate that a split may be imminent.
Recently, Iisalo broke his silence on the situation and seemingly dismissed all reports of tension, which led some to believe that Morant might not want out after all. However, renowned NBA Insider Zach Lowe revealed that teams around the league see the situation differently. Despite Morant’s history with the organization, rivals are looking at Memphis and seeing a player who is clearly trying to get out.
“I will say with Ja, teams that are watching him, and I talked to one of them over the weekend, they’re throwing his current level of play into the trash. They’re saying, ‘This looks to us like a guy who wants out.’ And they’re going to judge him more by his long-term track record, whatever that even is at this point, given his games played issues over the last few years, than by what they’re seeing right now. But, I mean… he’s averaging 18 a game, shooting 36% from the field, 17% from three, and just looks disengaged for half of every game on both ends of the floor.”
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Adding to the concerns, another issue has surfaced, as Morant is set to miss the next two weeks due to an injury. Given that he has appeared in fewer than 65 games per year over his past five seasons, this latest absence only adds another layer of frustration within the organization.
While Morant has downplayed all the drama surrounding him this season, it’s hard to deny that this simply doesn’t look like the same player or team that captivated the league after he arrived in Memphis. That doesn’t mean Morant definitely wants to leave the Grizzlies, but with his disengaged play and the mounting speculation, a split may be the logical next step. Based on what rivals are seeing, that move could be coming soon.
