When Ja Morant is healthy and engaged, he is one of the most electrifying stars in the NBA. However, injuries and off-the-court issues have kept him from reaching his peak.
His latest antics involve post-game comments that created tension between him and head coach Tuomas Iisalo, which could have a ripple effect across the league.
What Caused the Tension Between Ja Morant and Head Coach Tumoas Iisalo?
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Morant and Iisalo had a heated exchange after the Memphis Grizzlies’ 112-117 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 31. The first-year head coach called out Morant’s “leadership and effort in front of the whole team.”
The organization disliked the star guard’s response, calling it “inappropriate and dismissive” and handed out a one-game suspension. Morant sat out of the Memphis’ contest against the Toronto Raptors, resulting in back-to-back losses for the 3-4 Grizzlies.
In the eyes of former NBA star Blake Griffin, Iisalo has a legitimate gripe. After the game against Los Angeles, Griffin called out several plays where it looked like Morant was unengaged. “For a guy who is making $40 million and needs to be the leader of this team, I just don’t love it … It’s something that has to change,” said the former Los Angeles Clippers star.
After the postgame exchange, a reporter asked Morant, “What went wrong for you today?” The Grizzlies’ point guard bluntly responded, “Go ask the coaching staff.” He blamed the coaching staff multiple times after the loss
The organization, IIsalo, and Morant are looking to put this exchange behind them. However, this is not Morant’s first time serving a suspension due to an off-court situation. The second pick in the 2019 NBA Draft served a 33-game suspension in the 2023-24 campaign due to gun incidents on social media.
Charania mentioned a critical detail during his ESPN Segment. “Teams across the league are monitoring this, keeping an eye on where this relationship stands between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies,” said Charania. Could Morant be on the move if both sides cannot see eye-to-eye?
Morant Fits on Another Western Conference Championship Cotender
If the Grizzlies trade Morant, one destination comes to mind- the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mike Conley is past his prime, and Rob Dillingham has struggled in his sophomore season. Donte DiVincenzo, while a capable starter, is not a point guard by trade. His ideal role is at the shooting guard position, where the Timberwolves can utilize his deadly outside shooting.
Morant solves Minnesota’s point guard problem. He and Anthony Edwards would form one of the most athletic and dynamic backcourts of all time. A Julius Randle, Morant, and Edwards star trio would be capable of getting their own shot at any point. DiVincenzo would move back to the bench like last season, forming a strong bench scoring duo with Naz Reid.
A Morant trade could shift the power balance in the Western Conference or boost a surprising Eastern Conference squad into contention.