Ja Morant has said publicly that he doesn’t want to be traded, but as the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves back in the United States to prepare for a mid-week visit from the Atlanta Hawks, circumstances have both changed and remain the same as they were when the team departed for Europe last week.
The vibes were high after the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Orlando Magic in London, an energized Ja Morant returning after a two-week absence and shredding their oft-praised defense with 20 points and 10 assists in the first half.
Most NBA players, no matter how successful, are out of the league before the end of their 30s, or even their 20s. That leaves a lot of life left to live, and a good handful of players have made the most of their professional lives after leaving the court.
Zach Edey's health has proven to be a major priority for the Memphis Grizzlies, one they have proven by the handling of his stress reaction. He won't be reevaluated again until after the All-Star break, and the Grizzlies are already amongst the bottom of the Western Conference.
It’s no secret that Grizzlies’ point guard Ja Morant is one of the top remaining trade chips on the market. Memphis, at just 18-23 on the season, feels far away from true contention.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is not pounding the table to get out of Memphis. He just wants answers. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Jackson does not necessarily want to be traded by the Grizzlies, despite leaguewide chatter suggesting otherwise.
Grizzlies standout Ja Morant may be available. That does not mean he is going to Miami or Milwaukee. ESPN insider Tim Bontemps said he does not expect the Heat or the Bucks to land the Grizzlies’ point guard, despite both teams being loosely linked in recent weeks.
The NBA’s London games took a turn for the worse. It was meant to expand the league’s presence in European countries, following the game in Berlin a few days ago.
Ja Morant picked an interesting moment to remind everyone what he still looks like when things are right. After missing six games with a right calf injury, Morant returned Sunday and carved up the Magic in a 126-109 Grizzlies win in London.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has had his name come up regularly in trade rumors over the last several weeks, but he suggested Sunday that he was not the one who was instigating them.
When it comes to the Memphis Grizzlies, criticism of every kind eventually finds its way to Ja Morant. However, he isn’t the only star player on the Grizzlies to get the stick.
The Hawks intend to sign free agent center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract, reports Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).
The Orlando Magic were locked in a tight battle with the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday — until Anthony Black lowered the boom with a powerful dunk over four defenders.