The Perfect Storm
Morant’s decline isn’t the result of any single factor. It’s an accumulation a slow bleed of value from multiple wounds.Off-court issues: The gun incidents. The suspensions.
Injury problems: Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Morant has played in just 79 of a possible 213 games. This season alone, he’s appeared in only 20 contests.
Team friction: A one-game suspension in November 2025 for clashing with head coach Tuomas Iisalo. A reported argument with former teammate Vince Williams Jr. during shootaround in London.
The Balance Beam
“If you were making mistakes but still out there playing, we could live with that. We could figure that out. But if you’re making mistakes and you’re not playing, and you’re doing it your way?
The balance beam requires at least one side to hold weight. Morant’s has collapsed on both ends. The off-court headaches would be tolerable if he were dominating on it.
DeMarcus Cousins’ Perspective
“I think his value dropped because of the play along with the suspension early. The system isn’t a good fit. He doesn’t feel like he’s hitting the best version of himself with the way he’s being coached.
The system argument carries weight. Iisalo’s scheme doesn’t maximize Morant’s strengths the way Taylor Jenkins’ did. When a star doesn’t fit, and isn’t playing, and is generating negative headlines the math gets ugly fast.
The Trade Deadline Reality
At the February 2026 deadline, the Grizzlies made Morant available. The response? Silence. Teams weren’t just unwilling to give up assets they wanted Memphis to attach draft picks to move him.
From franchise cornerstone to negative value in less than three years.
What Comes Next
The off-court noise must stop. The body must stay on the floor. The game must evolve. And the narrative that relentless, compounding narrative must shift.
For Ja Morant, changing that narrative is the only path back. The talent is still there. The question is whether he can find the discipline, health, and humility to let it matter again.
