Ja Morant is adamant about his future with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The two-time all-star addressed the recent trade speculation about him after the Grizzlies’ 126-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
“If anybody in here knows me, I’m a very loyal guy,” Morant said. “I got a logo on my back (Grizzlies tattoo), so that should tell you exactly where I want to be.”
Memphis reportedly began entertaining trade offers for Morant earlier this month, with the team prioritizing draft picks and young players in return, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This came with the Grizzlies sitting on the outside of the playoff picture, and Morant not playing like his former self.
Morant was averaging 19 points entering Sunday — his lowest since his rookie campaign — to go with 3.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists. His field-goal and three-point percentages are also the worst of his career, shooting just 40.1 per cent from the field and an abysmal 20.8 per cent from deep while averaging 4.3 attempts per night.
However, Morant returned from a six-game absence Sunday with an impressive 24 points and 13 assists while shooting 7-of-13 from the field. If he can maintain that level of play, he may force the Grizzlies to hold onto him.
Even with the Grizzlies entertaining offers, they are still considering multiple paths forward and remain open to keeping Morant, Charania added.
After Sunday’s victory, Memphis sits at 18-23.
