Trading Ja is just crazy, but

[esvl]

First of all, there are very few people who love and value Ja more than me. But we are the Grizzlies fans and, hence, have all rights to consider all the options in the best interest of the franchise.

The main premises are as follows:

1. We have been good without Ja, so we have a system in place, or at least the alternative basis.

2. Ja is a defensive liability.

3. Ja is risking a caree-ending injury in every game.

Given all the factors, I wonder would you guys trade Ja to for example Indiana for Hali and #6?

Hali - Tyus
Bane - Melton
Brooks - ZW
JJJ - Murray (or Daniels)
Adams - Clarke

[VCfor3]

It would take a whole lot more than Hali and 6 for me to discuss moving Ja. His defense is a weakness yes, but I think he can correct it enough that we are able to survive. Steph is a decent (not great) defender now and used to be pretty bad. Ja actually had one game early in the Wolves series where he looked good defensively, but then he got banged up and the large offensive load took its toll. I think he is smart enough and has the drive to improve his defense and as the rest of our team slowly starts to do more on the offense end it will let him save some energy for defense. You also need a closer at the end of games and Ja is that for us. No one else is really able to do that which is why when the Warriors went on a bit of a run at the end of Game 6 we knew we were done since we weren't able to answer.

[psman2]

As much as this is game it is also a product. Ja is the product here and pegged to be the face of this franchise and the NBA for the foreseeable future. You cannot take the PR and marketing hit that will happen here. Unless you have immediately success after the trade then the fanbase and city will turn on the team and owner. They will never be able to live it down and if the team is still here in 20 years then fans will still be pissed. True Ja may flame out like Penny did due to injuries, but if you are too afraid of failure or injury then that fear will ultimately prevent you from ever succeeding.

Plus we have had some limited success without Ja. You can win some regular season games by being a well disciplined team ball playing team, but unless you have overwhelming very good talent across the board (Pistons 2004) then you will never reach the Championship level without an offensive star. You could have some success like the Hawks had back when they won 60 with Horford/Milsap and good surrounding depth but you still likely get bounced in the playoffs.

High usage guys are hard to fit in, If we are ever going to win it all Ja is going to have to find the right balance of when to take control and when to get the team more involved. So far he has shown flashes of this but hopefully he can become more consistent.

I don't see a star when I look at Hali. I see him topping out at fringe all star top 25-30 guy. And no one in this draft at 6 really has me salivating. I do think Ja's actual on the court performance is currently over rated, but that is the nature of these things. Hopefully he will grow into these accolades and is his game catches up to the hype.

[esvl]

Thank you guys for making me calm down on this topic. It has lived in my head for too long, and I didn`t know how to let it go and, similarly, how to discuss it with the other Grizzlies fans. This topic is sensitive to the level of embarrassment

[VCfor3]

Thank you guys for making me calm down on this topic. It has lived in my head for too long, and I didn`t know how to let it go and, similarly, how to discuss it with the other Grizzlies fans. This topic is sensitive to the level of embarrassment

It is a pretty prominent topic amongst some Grizz fans for sure, but also a ton of non-Grizz fans who simply look at the record which pushes the topic up and forces us to discuss it more than you otherwise would ha.

[jefe]

It would be a blunder of epic proportions to trade Ja at this time. While the team is deep, plays well without him, and stacks up Ws in the regular season, Ja is the closer needed to win and advance deep into the playoffs. I have no doubt in my mind that we would have won game 4 against the Warriors if Ja had been available; it would have been an entirely different series at that point.

[esvl]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2201374&start=20

[VCfor3]

I'd prefer Ja over Cade. Cade could be good, but he still has a lot to prove.

[esvl]

Today, it has come to me again. It is my reasonable suspicion that one of the reasons FO has given Tyus his new contract is to hedge the risk of Ja turning into Harden - Mr. No Defence. If this turns out to be the case, FO might decide to trade Ja next summer in which case the roster won’t be hurt which is a beauty. And picks that would be received in return would make the franchise future truly sustainable for a decade going forward.

[VCfor3]

Today, it has come to me again. It is my reasonable suspicion that one of the reasons FO has given Tyus his new contract is to hedge the risk of Ja turning into Harden - Mr. No Defence. If this turns out to be the case, FO might decide to trade Ja next summer in which case the roster won’t be hurt which is a beauty. And picks that would be received in return would make the franchise future truly sustainable for a decade going forward.

Nah Ja is the engine of our team. I think keeping Tyus was a hedge against Ja missing time. It also is a good contract for matching salary in a potential trade. Tyus plus Adams lets us match most contracts in the NBA, especially if you add in Green's salary. I think we want the short term insurance plus good salary matching (maybe a little overpaid but still a good player teams would like). I don't see us trading Ja. He seems fully bought in on Memphis and if we want a championship we will need him to close games out for us.

[MemphisX]

Ja is a potential MVP candidate. He is going nowhere. Stop.

[jefe]

Trade Ja for picks? The whole point of acquiring picks is to be in position to acquire a player like Ja. The Grizz have 18 true national broadcasts next year and are positioned as one of the premiere young teams in the league thanks in very, very large part to Ja. It is absolutely insane (and career suicide for the GM that would do it) to trade Ja at this point in time or next summer.

[Jamaaliver]

Is this still a non-starter for most Grizzlies fans? Ja as untouchable or might the fanbase and front office consider it for the right player?

[VCfor3]

Is this still a non-starter for most Grizzlies fans? Ja as untouchable or might the fanbase and front office consider it for the right player?

Still mostly a non-starter unless he is moved for another young Top 10 talent (SGA for instance), but I can't see any other team wanting to give up their young star/superstar for Ja.

[jefe]

Is this still a non-starter for most Grizzlies fans? Ja as untouchable or might the fanbase and front office consider it for the right player?

I have to admit that it did cross my mind momentarily after the Denver stripclub video. Tyus is a great PG, and we have a deep, talented team that can win some regular season games without Ja. However, Ja is clearly a closer that a team with championship aspirations has to have in the playoffs. He is also clearly the leader of this team.

At this point, if I were the GM, I would only consider it if Ja got disgruntled in Memphis. Like VCfor3, I'd look for another young star like SGA or a wing.