Ja Morant‘s future with the Memphis Grizzlies is unsure, given the drama that ensued early this season. There have been a few trade rumors centered around the All-Star guard. Especially since there has been a reported disconnect between Morant and the coaching staff. Additionally, the Grizzlies’ 4-9 record this 2025-26 NBA season isn’t one of the bright spots.
Morant has dealt with several off-court issues in his time with the Grizzlies. This has affected his career negatively. Over the past two seasons, the athletic guard has appeared in just 59 games. That was a mix of suspension and injuries. During that stretch, his reputation has been affected greatly.
On Friday’s episode of Danny Green’s podcast, “No Fouls Given,” former NBA star Paul Pierce appeared as a guest. During his time on the show, the one-time champion agreed with the suggestion of a Trae Young-Ja Morant trade.
While this would send Morant to a city that’s known as the “Hollywood of the South,” Pierce said that it would be a great change of scenery.
“I love it for Ja Morant,” Pierce said. “I love him with those young guys… Sometimes, it’s not about the city, it’s just the change of scenery. We know Atlanta got a good nightlife for young African-American guys in the NBA. But I’m sure he will understand that, ‘I will be a target here.’ He’ll put himself in a position to… he won’t mess it up.”
Paul Pierce thinks a Ja Morant–for–Trae Young swap could work, and he believes Atlanta is the perfect city for Ja to get a fresh start
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 14, 2025
Morant has been with the Grizzlies for seven years. During that time, he’s been named an All-Star twice, an All-NBA player once and the 2020 Rookie of the Year. However, the lack of success has started to tarnish the partnership between the two sides.
Grizzlies’ head coach speaks on the news about him and Ja Morant
According to rumors, head coach Tuomas Iisalo questioned Ja Morant’s leadership. On Thursday, the coach took the time to address the narrative between their relationship. Iisalo pushed back on the reports about tension.
“We have had a lot of dialogue,” Iisalo said. “We see the game in very similar ways. He’s a very intelligent player. He sees things on video; you don’t even have to point it out, he already knows what could have been an option there. And overall, it’s just been a pleasure.”
“I think both Ja and I are very competitive people, and we are both after the same thing, which is winning.”
There’s a question of whether the relationship can still be mended. But given the recent events, it looks like Morant’s time in Memphis is numbered.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
