{"id":261284,"date":"2025-11-04T05:23:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T05:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/261284\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T05:23:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T05:23:19","slug":"nba-analysts-old-take-is-relevant-for-heat-fans-hoping-for-ja-morant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/261284\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Analyst’s Old Take is Relevant for Heat Fans Hoping for Ja Morant"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ja Morant<\/a> drama is heating up.<\/p>\n

As the Memphis Grizzlies saw their franchise star return to the lineup on Monday night after a one-game suspension, Morant had a simple answer to a question about what his joy level is playing basketball in Memphis right now. <\/p>\n

Spoiler alert: there isn\u2019t any.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you feel like you\u2019ve got the same joy right now that we\u2019re used to seeing from you?\u201d One reporter asked Morant following Monday\u2019s game against the Detroit Pistons. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Morant said. When the answer was followed up with \u201cwhy not\u201d and \u201cwhat can it be done to get it back?\u201d Morant shrugged and said, \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ja Morant says he lost his joy \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n

(\ud83c\udfa5 @Matt_Infield<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/JR2sfnhVop<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that teams are monitoring the situation out in Memphis. Morant is a multi-time All-Star who would generate a competitive market if the Grizzlies get serious about trading him. The Miami Heat, known star hunters, were recently suggested<\/a> to go after Morant by some fans and a former player. <\/p>\n

Could that scenario actually get spoken into existence? Back in June, FanDuelTV\u2019s \u2018Run It Back\u2019 co-host and former NBA player Chandler Parsons addressed a potential Miami-Morant pairing. The player-turned-analyst\u2019s skepticism then is even more relevant now.<\/p>\n

How could you forget? The way the Morant situation is currently playing out is very similar to Butler\u2019s final season in Miami. The veteran star was criticized for a lackluster effort, which led him to publicly make comments that led to a suspension. There was no joy out of Butler, and it was evident. It took some time, but eventually, a trade got done. <\/p>\n

\u201cMiami says no [to a hypothetical trade]\u2014there\u2019s no way if Pat Riley doesn\u2019t want to deal with Jimmy Butler, he\u2019s going to deal with Ja Morant,\u201d Pasons said over the offseason. \u201cThere\u2019s no chance. I can\u2019t see it. I would say no if I\u2019m Miami. Ja Morant hasn\u2019t shown he can stay on the court. Is he must-see TV? Is he an elite player when he\u2019s on the court? Yes, but he\u2019s been too inconsistent for me. Again, if Pat Riley\u2019s having issues with Jimmy\u2019s antics, I can\u2019t imagine him dealing with Ja Morant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no way if Pat Riley doesn\u2019t want to deal with Jimmy Butler, he\u2019s gonna deal with Ja Morant.\u201d \ud83d\udc40@ChandlerParsons<\/a> says though Ja would certainly give the Heat a talent boost, it\u2019s no chance Pat Riley takes a swing on the young superstar given his off court history. pic.twitter.com\/oe0UnR5CY9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Fast forward roughly five months, and Morant just returned from an injury to a struggling Grizzlies team, where he\u2019s growing frustrated to the point where the NBA world is questioning his future. <\/p>\n

Does this mean the Miami Heat would be all the way out on Morant? Not exactly. But Parsons certainly had a point then, and it just might hold up now. <\/p>\n

Want to read more about the daily ripple effects of the NBA? Make sure you bookmark Fastbreak on SI for the top hoops stories<\/a> of the day from a league-wide scope.<\/p>\n

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