Ja Morant Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Wants Grizzlies Superstar to Join $5,700,000,000 Eastern Conference Team

NBA: Miami Heat at Memphis Grizzlies - Source: Imagn
Ja Morant Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Wants Grizzlies Superstar to Join $5,700,000,000 Eastern Conference Team. [photo: Imagn]

The Ja Morant trade rumors intensified on Friday following the Memphis Grizzlies’ 124-109 loss to the Houston Rockets. Morant had another disappointing outing, his second since returning from a one-game suspension. The Grizzlies had sidelined him on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors for what they called “conduct detrimental to the team.”

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On Thursday’s “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony said the Miami Heat could be a good fit for Morant. The Heat, valued at $5.7 billion by Forbes, stress the importance of discipline, hard work and professionalism.

“This is not about basketball with Ja [Morant] now. This is holding him accountable as a man, as a professional. … Ja need culture. He need to go to a culture centered on hard work and discipline. I’m not mad at him in Miami. Pat [Riley] gonna let you be you, but you also gotta be professional.”
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Morant's troubles started on Friday during the Grizzlies’ 117-112 loss to the LA Lakers. Morant seemed disengaged, particularly on defense. At one point, he sat behind the bench as the team huddled for a late-game possession.

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo reportedly confronted Morant in front of the team. Morant later deflected questions to the “coaching staff” when asked to comment about his team’s loss. He was suspended a day later.

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Morant returned on Monday when the Grizzlies hosted the Detroit Pistons. After another loss, he responded, “No,” when reporters asked him if he still found joy in playing basketball. Morant added that he would see what it would take for him to regain that fire.


Carmelo Anthony and ex-NFL star Cam Newton have contrasting solutions to Ja Morant issue

Carmelo Anthony sees Ja Morant responding well to the “culture” built by Pat Riley in Miami. With a championship-winning coach in Erik Spoelstra, the athletic guard will be held to the highest standards.

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Former NFL star Cam Newton, however, cautioned against such a scenario for Morant. Newton, in his “4th&1” podcast on Thursday, noted that Morant has had trouble in Memphis, a small-market team. The 2015 NFL MVP added that the attractions in Miami, Atlanta, New York, Dallas and LA could result in more issues for Morant.

Newton said that playing in Charlotte for the North Carolina Panthers was a “blessing” for him since the city “shuts down after 8 p.m.” He urged Ja Morant to think of Memphis as his “blessing” in the NBA.

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Edited by Michael Macasero
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