NBA GM 'Definitely' Thought Ja Morant Was Going to Be Traded by Deadline amid Rumors

Prior to the firing of Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins, there was feeling that star point guard Ja Morant was getting traded prior to the Feb. 6 deadline.

"I was texting with a GM after this happened and he said, 'I would have told you, I thought they were definitely going to,'" ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported on The Hoop Collective (21:30 mark). "'Ja was out on them. They won games without him. They have to be sustainable.'"

The Grizzlies made the surprising decision to part ways with Jenkins on Friday despite owning a 44-29 record and sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings at the time. They also had a mere nine games remaining in the regular season.

According to Sam Amick, Fred Katz and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Morant took issue with Jenkins' offensive system that took "the ball out of his hands and removes the screens he likes to use as a ball handler."

NBA insider Marc Stein also reported that there have been "rumbles circulating" that the point guard wanted Memphis to run "way more pick-and-roll than it does" instead of the team's "motion-based offense."

Stein noted that the Grizzlies' schemes were "mandated" by the front office, though.

Assistant Tuomas Iisalo has taken over as Memphis' interim coach.

He was "essentially viewed as a pick-and-roll expert" when he first joined Jenkins' staff, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman previously called trade rumors involving Morant "nonsense" after the deadline passed.

The 25-year-old has appeared in just 44 games this season due to hamstring and shoulder injuries, averaging 22.3 points and 7.5 assists per game on 44.7/28.9/83.0 shooting splits.

While the Grizzlies are attempting to clinch their fourth playoff berth in five seasons, Morant's long-term future with the organization wasn't viewed as secure heading into the deadline.