Ja Morant Calls Out Rumors on Grizzlies Distracting from Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals
Ja Morant believes reporters should be focusing on the 2025 NBA Finals rather than the status of the Memphis Grizzlies.
On Tuesday, Morant called for more focus on Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, T.J. McConnell and Pascal Siakam as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers prepare to meet for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
The Grizzlies star also seemed to refute trade rumors in another post earlier on Tuesday.
Morant's posts come two days after the Grizzlies made a major roster shift by dealing Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic.
In return for Bane, the Grizzlies acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four first-round picks including the No. 16 selection in the 2025 draft.
Shams Charania said shortly after the Bane trade on ESPN's SportsCenter that the Grizzlies "are signaling privately that they will continue to build around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr."
ESPN's Tim Bontemps similarly reported that the Grizzlies are "not looking to deal either of their two remaining franchise cornerstones."
Jackson has just one season remaining on his contract, but Bontemps reported there is a "belief" the Grizzlies will be able to finalize an extension with Jackson before he hits free agency next spring.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright previously reported that the Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins shortly before their playoff run in part because of a belief that players including Morant had "tuned out" the former head coach.
Morant is currently signed through the 2027-28 season. He is eligible for a two-year, $125 million contract extension this summer, according to The Athletic.
ESPN's Bobby Marks previously predicted that the Grizzlies would wait until next offseason to begin extension talks with Morant, considering the injury and suspension issues that have limited him to a total of 59 games over the past two seasons.
For now, however, early indications seem to be that both Morant and the Grizzlies are preparing to run things back next season as the franchise looks to claim its first playoff series in four years next spring.
