Ja Morant gets SLAMMED by Grizzlies GM, claims team disappointed with superstar’s behavior

Grizzles' general manager shared his opinion regarding Ja Morant's suspension

Ja Morant gets SLAMMED by Grizzlies GM, claims team disappointed with superstar’s behavior

Ja Morant for the Memphis Grizzlies (Image via Getty)

The NBA announced Ja Morant’s suspension on June 16 after a video of him brandishing a gun surfaced on an Instagram Live. Ja Morant will be missing 25 games of the upcoming NBA season following the suspension notice from the league. The star would also be prohibited from joining any team activities during the suspension including team practice and public activities with the team but will be allowed to enter team facilities.

Following Morant’s suspension, the General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies organization Zach Kleiman commented on Morant’s suspension: “The thing to focus on at this point … what’s Ja going to commit to going forward? … What are the steps that he’s prepared to take for the NBA to grant the ability to rejoin the team after serving the suspension? Kleiman added, “I think there’s a lot of healthy dialogue there. I think everyone did acknowledge early on that this was going to be ongoing and Ja wasn’t just going to become the best version of himself overnight. I think there’s many really serious steps that he needs to continue to take.”

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The Grizzlies Point guard had already issued an apology regarding his suspension and is looking to make his return as soon as possible but to do that Morant will have to meet certain conditions given to him by the NBA Commissioner, however, the terms to be met are not made known to the public.

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This will be the second suspension for the 23-year-old as he was suspended for a very similar incident back in March where he was suspended for only 8-games.

Related: Troubled Ja Morant LOSES $50 million alongside controversial suspension

Marcus Smart is the PERFECT veteran for the Grizzlies

Marcus Smart in a Grizzles Uniform(edited)
Marcus Smart in a Grizzlies Uniform (edited)

The Celtics dropped a massive trade bomb right before the NBA Draft on Thursday night, with the Boston Celtics sending out Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade that also involved the Washington Wizards. Through the trade, the Celtics acquired the forward Porzingis from the Wizards and two first-round picks but gave up one of their core piece players in the process.

Marcus Smart has been in the league for over 9 years establishing himself as a team player and a defensive threat bagging home a defensive player of the Year award last year. The 29-year-old vet is exactly what the Grizzlies need right now as Memphis have one of the youngest stars in the league in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. with the team showing a clear void of a veteran presence in the locker room multiple times already.

With the team dealing with the Dillion Brooks shenanigans followed by the Morant suspension, the trade gave the team a fresh look and Smart can make immediate impacts as he will be thrust into the starting lineup with Tyus Jones gone from the team due to the trade.

Morant is expected to make his return around Christmas and Marcus Smart will be starting in place of Ja as he will look to replicate what he did in Boston for the first 25 games without Morant i.e., winning games.

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