The Athletic NBA Daily Will the Grizzlies trade Ja Morant? + Thunder stay undefeated
Nov 3, 2025
The panel dives into the implications of Ja Morant's suspension on the Grizzlies, questioning if his style clashes with their structured approach. They explore whether Memphis should consider trading Morant, examining potential teams like the Raptors and scenarios with Portland and Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the Thunder's impressive 7-0 start contrasts with the Pelicans' struggles, leading to debates about coaching and roster expectations. Lastly, they analyze how the Suns stifled Victor Wembanyama, impacting his performance significantly.
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Morant vs. Structure
- Ja Morant's performance decline and lack of visible effort signaled a deeper team-role conflict with new coaching and structure.
- The Grizzlies' offense struggles without Morant expose tensions between his freedom-driven play and Taylor Jenkins/Isalo's structured system.
Style Clash Driving Frustration
- Ja prefers improvisational freedom while coach Isalo enforces a more structured offense that limits his natural game.
- That philosophical mismatch may be driving frustration and on-court disengagement from Morant.
Team Built Around Jackson Jr.
- The Grizzlies appear to be shifting toward Jaren Jackson Jr. as a focal point and spacing creator.
- That shift reduces Morant's on-court impact and may explain his waning rim frequency and efficiency.