Hypothetical: Memphis Builds around Bane/JJJ and shops Ja Morant

[Skybox]

I think with the 2 years of injury (Ja has played like 40% of games the past 2 seasons) + legal issues you are looking at an underwhelming return.

ORL does make alot of sense. Suggs + both 2025 FRP for Ja?

I'd LOVE to put him next to Suggs but Suggs' trade value and his big contract make him the likeliest piece in a big move. Paolo and Franz are off limits.

[BlazersBroncos]

I think with the 2 years of injury (Ja has played like 40% of games the past 2 seasons) + legal issues you are looking at an underwhelming return.

ORL does make alot of sense. Suggs + both 2025 FRP for Ja?

I'd LOVE to put him next to Suggs but Suggs' trade value and his big contract make him the likeliest piece in a big move. Paolo and Franz are off limits.

Suggs would have to be going out - agreed.

I think you just hope KCP gets his 3PT stroke back and roll w/ him as the low usage SG - Ja / Franz / Paolo are going to be eating the VAST majority of usage anyways.

[jowglenn]

If Memphis isn't looking for a classic "lesser pieces and picks" type deal, then who else is out there that's on a similar level to Ja Morant? Meaning, who is a player who has played at a near-MVP level, but has had injury/character issues and is now potentially needing a fresh start?

The obvious answer is Zion Williamson, right? Ja for Zion. Salaries match perfectly. Straight up? Or do the Pelicans need to add a pick?

Also curious if the Rockets would have some interest

[psman2]

If Memphis isn't looking for a classic "lesser pieces and picks" type deal, then who else is out there that's on a similar level to Ja Morant? Meaning, who is a player who has played at a near-MVP level, but has had injury/character issues and is now potentially needing a fresh start?

The obvious answer is Zion Williamson, right? Ja for Zion. Salaries match perfectly. Straight up? Or do the Pelicans need to add a pick?

Also curious if the Rockets would have some interest

No one. I think the die is cast in Memphis with Ja. No one we can realistically trade for is going to give us the team upside that Ja represents if he can put it all together. We likely stick with him until he is on his last year of his contract and weigh our options then. It a tough spot to be in but that is where we find ourselves. Ja is still immensely popular here in Memphis, this is not a situation where most Memphis fans want him gone.

[ReggiesKnicks]

If Memphis isn't looking for a classic "lesser pieces and picks" type deal, then who else is out there that's on a similar level to Ja Morant? Meaning, who is a player who has played at a near-MVP level, but has had injury/character issues and is now potentially needing a fresh start?

The obvious answer is Zion Williamson, right? Ja for Zion. Salaries match perfectly. Straight up? Or do the Pelicans need to add a pick?

Also curious if the Rockets would have some interest

No one. I think the die is cast in Memphis with Ja. No one we can realistically trade for is going to give us the team upside that Ja represents if he can put it all together. We likely stick with him until he is on his last year of his contract and weigh our options then. It a tough spot to be in but that is where we find ourselves. Ja is still immensely popular here in Memphis, this is not a situation where most Memphis fans want him gone.

I agree Ja is immensely popular and the fan base still is enamored with him, and rightfully so.

Ultimately if ownership believes they are better off without Ja, it doesn't matters what the fanbase wants or how enamored with him they are.

[psman2]

If Memphis isn't looking for a classic "lesser pieces and picks" type deal, then who else is out there that's on a similar level to Ja Morant? Meaning, who is a player who has played at a near-MVP level, but has had injury/character issues and is now potentially needing a fresh start?

The obvious answer is Zion Williamson, right? Ja for Zion. Salaries match perfectly. Straight up? Or do the Pelicans need to add a pick?

Also curious if the Rockets would have some interest

No one. I think the die is cast in Memphis with Ja. No one we can realistically trade for is going to give us the team upside that Ja represents if he can put it all together. We likely stick with him until he is on his last year of his contract and weigh our options then. It a tough spot to be in but that is where we find ourselves. Ja is still immensely popular here in Memphis, this is not a situation where most Memphis fans want him gone.

I agree Ja is immensely popular and the fan base still is enamored with him, and rightfully so.

Ultimately if ownership believes they are better off without Ja, it doesn't matters what the fanbase wants or how enamored with him they are.

Of course it is up to ownership, and that is the angle I usually form my posts from. However, if Ja was not popular then that would for sure sway ownership willingness to take a lesser trade. For better or worse Ja is the biggest sports icon the city of Memphis has every had (Rose and Penny just too short amount of time here in college), that is likely a foreign concept for most other fans from cities who have 3 or 4+ professional teams and a century of history behind them. Unless his trade value is higher than I suspect then I just don't see the ownership coming down on the side of being better off without Ja side. I think they might get there after another season but I think continuing to gamble on him is going to be ownerships conclusion given the alternatives.

[Texas Chuck]

Tim MacMahon's reporting today that Memphis fired Jenkins in part to maximize Morant, suggests what our Grizzlies fans are saying--that they see the best approach to be moving forward with him.

Of course that could be a planted story to avoid drama to not derail their playoff run, or they could change their minds.

But I also struggle to find a deal that elevates their ceiling and the floor is already plenty high.

I mean if Giannis were to decide he wants out(I don't foresee this either btw) then that's the one thing I see. He elevates their ceiling to championship level and he fits great between JJJ/Bane and Morant gives a team with a big pick debt a building block with plenty of prime ahead of him to retool around.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Tim MacMahon's reporting today that Memphis fired Jenkins in part to maximize Morant, suggests what our Grizzlies fans are saying--that they see the best approach to be moving forward with him.

Of course that could be a planted story to avoid drama to not derail their playoff run, or they could change their minds.

This story has made me chuckle over the past few days.

1. Ja Morant and Jenkins have a great relationship and a ton of respect for each other
2. Memphis instills a motion offense, not because of Jenkins, but because of their current interim HC who they forced to be on the staff of Jenkins.
3. Ja is getting frustrated with the new offense, Jenkins goes back to the offense Ja likes (High P&R) and Ja starts playing better
4. Memphis fires Jenkins

[DrModesty]

The Grizzlies should hold steady. They traded all their vets away and now the core 3 are surrounded by guys on rookie scale deals. Their window hasn't reopened yet, and probably won't for at least these next 2 playoff runs.

[psman2]

Tim MacMahon's reporting today that Memphis fired Jenkins in part to maximize Morant, suggests what our Grizzlies fans are saying--that they see the best approach to be moving forward with him.

Of course that could be a planted story to avoid drama to not derail their playoff run, or they could change their minds.

This story has made me chuckle over the past few days.

1. Ja Morant and Jenkins have a great relationship and a ton of respect for each other
2. Memphis instills a motion offense, not because of Jenkins, but because of their current interim HC who they forced to be on the staff of Jenkins.
3. Ja is getting frustrated with the new offense, Jenkins goes back to the offense Ja likes (High P&R) and Ja starts playing better
4. Memphis fires Jenkins

None of that is lost on Memphis fans. 1. That can be true while still being ready for a divorce. 2 - The hope is with free reign Lisalo will be to adapt his system to incorporate some more Ja friendly elements into the offense. 3- Jenkins going back to the old iso Ja system is not the direction our GM wanted to take and the results have been mixed at best. 4- This was not really a shock for Memphis fan's.

Plus I think the GM might have been frustrated with Jenkins approach with Edey, I think the hope was a little more consistent rotation and playing time for him. Edey is kind of a square peg in a round hole for Lisalo previous coaching style, so the the real test of any good coach is how they can adapt to the ingredients and still make a great meal. I do have to say that Lisalo does come across as a having a very high basketball IQ and will be innovative with his approach more so than Jenkins has shown he is capable of.

This season likely is not enough time to likely see what he is capable of so it will be interesting to see if gets the permanent nod. I expect he will.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Plus I think the GM might have been frustrated with Jenkins approach with Edey, I think the hope was a little more consistent rotation and playing time for him. Edey is kind of a square peg in a round hole for Lisalo previous coaching style, so the the real test of any good coach is how they can adapt to the ingredients and still make a great meal. I do have to say that Lisalo does come across as a having a very high basketball IQ and will be innovative with his approach more so than Jenkins has shown he is capable of.

Let's hope for Memphis sake that getting rid of a coach who seemingly turned every 2nd rounder and G-League player to look like an NBA Rotation Player turns into a net-positive firing and hiring.

Most coaches come across as having "a very high basketball IQ". That isn't typically a question or point of contention for younger basketball minds who find themselves in the NBA hierarchy.

What is impressive and seems to be lost on some is just how impressive Jenkins was with Memphis' roster over the past 4 seasons. I'm sure the GM and Ownership look over at OKC and say, "That was our projection 3 years ago, and we aren't there now," as a massive failure on Jenkins's part. The likelihood Lisalo is as good as Jenkins is low, and the likelihood he can squeeze out more from the roster is even lower.

Ultimately, Jenkins undoing was seemingly post-season play, and the verdict is out on Lisalo regarding this. Now, we have fans (yourself) already pointing to the fact that regardless of what happens in the post-season, Lisalo will still get the nod as coach in the future. Just a weird situation all around and terribly managed from the top-down.

[Texas Chuck]

I mean the difference is SGA became an MVP level player(and likely actual MVP) and Ja didn't. That's what drives the difference between the teams more than the coaching.

I agree Jenkins has gotten a lot of out of low ceiling players. But if you aren't getting the most out of your stars, you aren't going to have the long-term playoff success.

I tend to think teams change head coaches too often, but if they believe Jenkins can't get Ja/JJJ to another level but are convinced those players have it, I'm cool with trying something else.

I would have thought Dallas would be far worse off with Kidd than Carlisle, but the reality has been different. I still think Rick is the better coach, and there is a lot about Kidd I don't like, but its clear the players play hard for him, they buy in, and they aren't getting outschemed constantly and in fact Kidd and co have outcoached several opponents in the playoffs.

On a related note, we don't spend enough time looking at key assistants who often have outsized impact either on their specialty (offense or defense) or on their ability to forge a relationship with a star that the head guy hasn't been able to.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I mean the difference is SGA became an MVP level player(and likely actual MVP) and Ja didn't. That's what drives the difference between the teams more than the coaching.

100%, along with SGA being a much better all-around player without clear weaknesses (Shooting and Defense for Ja). I don't think there is any difference between JJJ/Bane and Chet/JDub.