Ja Morant Trade News: Grizzlies Star Rules Out Knicks as Potential Landing Spot With 2-Word Response to Fan

Amid the trade rumors involving Ja Morant, one fan made a direct recruitment pitch to the Memphis Grizzlies star to join the New York Knicks..

In a video that circulated on X on Wednesday, Morant was walking toward the locker room at Madison Square Garden when a fan asked him to come to New York.

"I'm cool," Morant responded.

The Grizzlies lost 133-120 to the Knicks on Tuesday to drop to 4-8 this season. Seven Memphis players scored in double figures, with Morant finishing with 16 points and 10 assists. However, the 6-foot-2 star's slow start this season continued, as he shot 4-for-14, including 2-for-6 from 3-point range, against New York.

Before Tuesday's loss, Morant had his worst shooting performance of the season, going 3-for-18 (16.7%) against the defending champion OKC Thunder on Sunday.

Morant also had a clash with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo, which led to a one-game suspension. After the 117-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 31, Iisalo challenged Morant's leadership and effort. ESPN's Shams Charania said the suspension stemmed from Morant's "detrimental" postgame comments.

NBA legend is concerned with Ja Morant's situation in Memphis

On Tuesday's episode of "The Timeout," Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade shared his concern for Ja Morant amid the growing tensions with the Memphis Grizzlies. Wade said players usually suffer when they clash with their teams.

"Everything can’t be 'pleasantville,' I understand that, but I know most of the time that it gets like this, the player is going to be painted as the bad guy," Wade said (Timestamp: 1:03:43). "The organization gets to hide behind the shield, the player has to be out there as his name. And I don’t like that for the player’s side of the game. I don’t like it overall."

"Hopefully, Ja weathers it. ... In real time, you just want to see Ja focus on basketball, no matter what is going on behind the scenes. ... We talk about not having that joy, we want to see that. And he doesn't have that right now, it's unfortunate, 'cause this guy has so much talent."

Morant is under contract for two more years following this season. In 11 games in 2025-26, Morant is averaging 18.9 points per game (35.2% shooting), his lowest mark since his rookie campaign in 2019-20, when he averaged 17.8 ppg.

The Grizzlies hope to snap their two-game losing skid when they face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.