JUST IN: According to ChrisBHaynes, Ja Morant has formally asked for a trade. Upon learning that Desmone Bane had been dealt for Cole Anthony by Memphis

The Memphis Grizzlies might be about to lose their franchise icon, according to some stunning news.
Just hours after the team snagged guard Cole Anthony in an unexpected trade that sent shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, Ja Morant allegedly asked for a trade. Grizzlies brass viewed Ja’s transfer as a chance to bolster Morant’s offensive game, but Ja reportedly wasn’t a fan of the chemistry or the branding.

Apparently not well-received by Ja, the proposed moniker “JA-COLE” for the new backcourt tandem became viral online.

Reportedly, Morant was taken aback by the deal, especially since Bane, a close associate of his and an integral part of the Grizzlies’ current triumph, was traded.

What may have started as an internet joke—a reference to rapper J. Cole—seems to have hit a nerve and may have represented Ja’s broader issues with the organization’s leadership.

This request has certainly amplified the level of interest in the NBA offseason. All throughout the league, contenders are supposedly lined up with trade deals to get a young superstar who is just beginning his peak.
Memphis may or may not try to make amends or honor the request, but either way, the “JA-COLE” era may have already ended.

Make sure you tune in. The plot is thickening.