Four-Time NBA All-Star Suggested as Possible Ja Morant Replacement!

Looking ahead to the offseason, the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a tough spot following their brutal first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Grizzlies were vastly outmatched by the Thunder, who are now in the NBA Finals, which raises a lot of questions.

Memphis hasn’t been able to replicate its regular-season and playoff success from 2022 and 2023, when it secured back-to-back No. 2 seeds. Since then, the team has regressed, failing to improve under the leadership of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Given these recent setbacks, many are wondering if the Grizzlies should try to trade point guard Ja Morant.
This season, he had a regression, averaging 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.

In the early offseason, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed a contentious trade target for the Grizzlies, suggesting that Memphis trade for Trae Young, a star for the Atlanta Hawks.

According to Hughes, “the Memphis Grizzlies have disappointed despite having no shortage of top-end talent and depth” because the team has been without Ja Morant for two years.

This could be because of an injury or a suspension, but either way, the former All-Star’s very infrequent availability (59 games across 2023-24 and 2024-25) has been a factor.
In light of these recent setbacks, many are wondering if the Grizzlies should try to trade point guard Ja Morant.

This season, he had a regression, averaging 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.

In the early offseason, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed a contentious trade target for the Grizzlies, suggesting that Memphis trade for Trae Young, a star for the Atlanta Hawks.
“Despite having no shortage of top-end talent and depth, the Memphis Grizzlies have disappointed due in part to Ja Morant’s infrequent availability—59 games across 2023-24 and 2024-25—due to suspension or injury.

The team has gone without the services of the former All-Star for two years,” Hughes wrote.

The threat of Young’s long-range shooting opens up the floor in ways that benefit his teammates. With Young at the controls, the shot quality of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. would skyrocket, and he’s a great passer who has averaged over 10 assists per game for three years in a row.

Young averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists this past season. Atlanta is more or less in the same spot as Memphis in terms of the NBA landscape, which could result in a change of scenery for both point guards.