Yes Morant’s rough patch with the Grizzlies could soon be coming to an end.
The Grizzlies are “entertaining offers to potentially move Morant before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, according to ESPN.
It’s the first time Memphis has at least listened to potential deals, the outlet added, and multiple teams are reportedly interested in the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
At his best on the court, Morant is a two-time All-Star who won Rookie of the Year in 2019-2020, earned Most Improved Player honors in 2021-2022 and guided the Grizzlies to the playoffs in four of the past five seasons.
He is averaging 19.0 points and 7.6 assists per game this season, but his shooting percentage has fallen to career-lows from the field (40.1 percent) and from behind the three-point arc (20.8 percent) in the 18 games in which Morant has played.
But the 26-year-old’s NBA career was also filled with drama off the court, as he was suspended twice for social media incidents and videos of him flashing firearms.
Initially, Morant was suspended for eight games in March 2023 after recording a video of himself brandishing a firearm on Instagram Live at a Denver-area strip club.
After another video in May of him flashing a gun while in a car, the NBA suspended him for the first 25 games of the 2023-2024 season.
Morant was also suspended one game in November for criticizing the Grizzlies coaching staff in an interview after a loss.
When asked what went wrong after falling to the Lakers, Morant responded with, “Just ask the coaching staff.
Then, when asked about his other thoughts, Morant said, “They probably say you shouldn’t play me, to be honest. That’s kind of what the message was.”
The Athletic reported in November that the Timberwolves and Kings could emerge as suitors for Morant, and if Memphis — who sit 10th in the Western Conference at 16-21 going into Friday’s games — ultimately trade him, it would be their second blockbuster since June.
Star guard Desmond Bane was also sent to the Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap.
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