Every time it feels like things are clicking again, every time it feels like the Suns have found their rhythm, someone somewhere finds a way to stir the pot. And this time, the noise is coming from Memphis, where something interesting might be brewing.
If you haven’t been keeping tabs, the situation between the Grizzlies and two-time All-Star Ja Morant has taken a strange turn. After beating the Suns last Wednesday, Memphis lost to the Lakers on Friday, 117–112. Morant’s stat line that night? 3-of-14
from the field, 0-of-6 from deep. And in the fourth quarter, where the Grizzlies entered up 91–89, he went 0-of-2 in 8:25 played.
After the loss, Morant didn’t hold back. When asked if he thought he should have played more in the fourth, he fired back, “Go ask the coaching staff if I should play more or not.” When pressed on what could have gone differently, he added, “According to them, probably don’t play me. Honestly. Basically, that is what the message was.”
Needless to say, Morant appeared frustrated.
The Grizzlies’ response? A one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
In Phoenix, we’ve seen bad body language before. We know what it looks like when a player’s frustration starts bleeding into everything else. Morant’s demeanor during those late-game timeouts said plenty, even before he opened his mouth. Add in his postgame comments, and you can feel the tension rising in Memphis. There’s a growing sense that this could be the early stage of a breakup between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.
Cool. That’s not a Phoenix Suns problem. That’s a Grizzlies problem. Still, it does make you wonder what a trade for Morant might look like.
According to Bleacher Report, five teams could make a run at him. The second team on that list? The Phoenix Suns.
Eric Pincus floated the idea of the Suns sending out Jalen Green, their 2027 first-round pick, and the $5.9 million trade exception in exchange for Ja Morant. He added the following:
This one hinges on what the Grizzlies think of Green, an increasingly polarizing player.
The 23-year-old is an athletic, high-level NBA scorer who struggled in his first postseason appearance last year with the Houston Rockets, outside of one monster performance in Game 2 vs. the Golden State Warriors.
Green is also less expensive than Morant with $105.8 million left on his deal, though he can opt out before the 2027-28 season.
The Suns could fill the greater positional need with Morant, giving up the only first they can send (the lowest selection between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz).
Phoenix could profit from the Grizzlies’ drama, on the premise that the Morant situation needs to be resolved before it poisons the rest of the season.
Ah, so we’ve found ourselves here again. Seven games into the season, and the Suns are already being linked to another disgruntled star looking for a new home. But it does spark an interesting conversation for a team that still hasn’t seen the full picture of what Jalen Green can be, and one that could use some stability at point guard given the overlap in skill sets on the roster.
We just saw Ja Morant last week, in a game where he dropped 28 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists. More importantly, he hit the game-winner that put Memphis ahead 114-113. My takeaway from that night? Morant doesn’t look nearly as explosive. Years of injuries have dulled what once made him electric.
The question now is whether patience can continue to hold, both in the front office and among the fan base. Because yes, Morant is talented. Yes, he fills a positional need. But if you look at his contract, he’s owed $39.4 million this year, $42.2 million next year, and $44.9 million in 2027–28.
So right as this team has started to find some financial footing, we’re being tempted again. With another high-priced star and another round of “what ifs.”
I’m sure plenty of fans have strong opinions on this one, and it’s fair to wonder if those opinions have shifted after what we’ve seen from the Suns over the past few games. Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
