Why Grizzlies can’t build the team around Ja Morant after trading Desmond Bane

A lot of people are still reeling from the Memphis Grizzlies’ decision to trade Desmond Bane. Bane had a career-best shooting season, hitting 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.
However, for Colin Cowherd, it merely serves to solidify an opinion he has harbored for some time.

In order to maintain relevance in the increasingly tough Western Conference, Cowherd believes the organization has finally had enough of Ja Morant as their top option and wants to move him down the roster.

Ja hasn’t proved his worth as the Grizzlies’ No. 1 option

It once looked like Morant was all set to be Memphis’ long-time leader. In the 2021-22 season, he led the Grizzlies to the second seed in the West, averaging 27.4 points to win the Most Improved Player of the Year award and his first All-NBA (Second Team) nod.

The following year, Ja averaged 26.2 points and improved his assist per-game tally to 8.1 per game, once again leading Memphis to the second seed.

At that point, it looked like the electric point guard was destined to be one of the most reliable young leaders in the league.
Nevertheless, things rapidly deteriorated. Despite his early success, Morant was unable to maintain it due to a series of injuries and personal problems that kept him off the court.

According to Cowherd, the Grizzlies franchise is angry since he hasn’t selected an All-Star since then.

They no longer have faith in Ja as the league’s public face, particularly given that his comments off the court are more influential than his play on it.

Memphis signaled, ‘We’re rebooting. We’re getting rid of Desmond Bane. We don’t trust Ja Morant,'” Cowherd said. “Ja Morant’s always hurt. He’s always been fool’s gold, in my opinion. Maturity issues. You can’t rely on him… If you can’t shoot, as a smaller player, then you gotta score at the rim. He’s a lesser version, a thinner version, a smaller version of Derrick Rose. This league is overwhelmingly won by big and unbelievable wings, not by small guys who are hyper-athletic and can’t shoot. I like him as my two or three (option). Memphis finally acknowledging, ‘Yeah, we can’t build around him.'”

The Grizzlies need more than just Morant to win big

Trading Bane—a high-efficiency, two-way guard—seems to indicate a change in mindset. Ja, Desmond, and Jaren Jackson Jr. have not been able to restore the team’s status as title contenders, therefore they may seek out a new pair of superstars.

Additionally, the level of competition is going to be increased because of the West’s anticipated improved teams, such as the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

In their pursuit of relevance, the Grizzlies may not be interested in a player whose primary concentration is on making dunk reels worthy of national attention or building excitement with his comments.

The Grizzlies could go even farther and trade JJJ or even Morant himself if Bane is the first daring domino to fall.

It might be the next big thing in the franchise’s trajectory if they’re serious about changing it.