The Memphis Grizzlies made headlines on Friday after news broke that the franchise was parting ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins, a move that surprised many around the league. Memphis currently sits fifth in the Western Conference, within striking distance of the third seed, making the decision to fire Jenkins unexpected.
Following the coaching change, speculation has grown regarding the future of the franchise, with reports suggesting Memphis may be considering a major roster overhaul in the offseason. One of the most significant rumors centers around Ja Morant, with some insiders suggesting the Grizzlies could explore trading their biggest star after six seasons.
While it remains uncertain whether Memphis will actually move Morant, Sam Amick, Fred Katz, and Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that at least two league executives have questioned Morant's trade market value.
"At least two league executives, however, questioned the demand for Morant in the trade market," The Athletic wrote. "And firing Morant's only coach, while the Grizzlies are headed for the playoffs with just two weeks left in the regular season, isn't going to quell questions about where, exactly, the franchise is headed. Or, more importantly in league circles, whether Morant will want to remain there for the long term."
Disagreements about offense. A bench blow-up about defense. The front office's decision to swap out 5 assistants that left Taylor Jenkins emotional.
Inside Memphis' firing of a respected coach, and a look at Ja Morant's future, (w/ @FredKatz, @joevardon)https://t.co/J2Awmf5p4F
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) March 29, 2025
Morant has played just 44 games this season, following a nine-game campaign last year. However, when available, he has consistently produced at an elite level, averaging 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists this season. In March, he was particularly dominant, averaging 30.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists over seven games.
Whether or not Memphis decides to move on from Morant remains to be seen, but the Grizzlies' immediate focus will be on keeping him healthy as they aim for a deep playoff run. The Grizzlies will return to action against a red-hot Boston Celtics team on Monday night.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 2:17 PM.