The Memphis Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. in a significant move at the deadline but decided to keep guard Ja Morant, who has been facing issues. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that Morant’s negative reputation has affected his market value.
On the show “Get Up,” Windhorst pointed out that many NBA teams see Morant as having “negative value.” This means the Grizzlies couldn’t find a strong trade for him and might need to offer draft picks just to move him.
Ja Morant’s Value Decline
At his best, Ja Morant averaged 27.4 points, earned the Most Improved Player award, and was seventh in MVP voting in 2022 when the Grizzlies made it to the second round of the playoffs. However, he got injured during that series, then signed a five-year, $231 million extension before the following season.
Morant’s issues began shortly after. He faced a lawsuit for allegedly assaulting a teenager, had a confrontation with the Indiana Pacers, and was suspended after showing agun on Instagram. He later received a 25-game suspension for another incident involving a gun in a video.
Morant returned in December 2023 but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in practice shortly after, playing only nine games. Throughout the 2024-25 season, he missed 32 games due to various injuries, and his scoring average dropped from 26.2 to 23.2 points per game. He has struggled with three-point shooting, failing to reach above 31 percent in the past four seasons, and has also seen a decline in rebounds and free-throw attempts.