Former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins would like to see Ja Morant on the Miami Heat.
Perkins thinks Morant needs a change of scenery since the All-Star has been caught showing a gun on IG Live twice. The NBA champion thinks the Heat “culture” could save Morant’s career.
Morant showed a gun on an IG Live video in March and was suspended for eight games. He clearly didn’t learn his lesson, as the guard showed another gun in a second IG Live video in May.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN believes NBA commissioner Adam Silver could come down very hard on Morant, who has already been suspended from all offseason activities associated with the Grizzlies.
“Adam Silver was very intentional in his words last night,” Wojnarowski said. “It does not bode well for Ja Morant. Listen, I think when you start to look at possible lengths of suspension, and that’s what we’re talking about, he’s going to be suspended. I think an interesting number to look at is 17 because now the NBA, at its disposal, has a new rule that a player has to play 65 games in the regular season to be eligible for post-season awards.
“So for Ja Morant, 17 games off the top immediately would make him, or 18 games, would make him ineligible for post-season awards. What you heard from Adam Silver last night is what a lot of people all around the league in Memphis, everywhere believe that no one’s going to be able to say this time, ‘Hey Adam, you went too lightly on Ja Morant.’”
Morant signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with Memphis in July 2022. He averaged 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists this season while shooting 46.6% from the field, 30.7% from beyond the arc, and 74.8% from the free-throw line.
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