The Ja Morant situation seems to be getting worse. His return from suspension didn’t see the usual hop in his step he usually has. And after the game came a concerning admission. Morant doesn’t feel the same “joy” anymore. This comes just days after his confrontation with head coach Tuomas Iisalo, which has put his Grizzlies future in doubt.

So far, neither the franchise nor Ja Morant is seeking those options. But Iisalo has previously spoken about calling players out. In visiting that conversation, Tim MacMahon feels accountability is a focal part of Iisalo’s team culture. “I can live with it as long as you bring the result. But if you don’t bring the result, then you’re a– is cut,” MacMahon said about Iisalo’s ideologies.

In Morant’s case, many feel an imminent trade is the only way for him to regain his love for the game. MacMahon doesn’t feel Iisalo could just cut him, as he is the Grizzlies’ cornerstone. But he also doesn’t see the situation improve unless there’s a change in Ja Morant.

“Now, that last line might work in the European league’s he was coaching, and that ain’t the way the NBA works with the face of the franchise on a maximum contract. But I think it tells you about the way he approaches, like dude, you’re quite quitting for the world to see. We’re going to talk about this for the whole team to hear,” he said on Hoop Collective.

This comes after another quiet performance against the Detroit Pistons. Morant logged just 18 points on 5-16 shooting, but did show his playmaking prowess. But his body language didn’t embody a man trying to right his previous wrongs. Ja Morant doesn’t seem to carry that same hunger in Memphis anymore.

That doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Iisalo welcomed the cornerstone back and didn’t hesitate to utilize his talents. But the question to ask is whether there is a silver lining to the tense standoff. And one analyst feels it’s already too late.

Is Ja Morant declining already?

The case of Ja Morant is complicated. When fully fit and motivated, he is a difference maker. This is the same man who guided the Grizzlies to two straight second-seed finishes. Yet, statistically, there’s been a consistent decline in his game. His points per game have dropped each season over the past four years.

Additionally, what really separated him from the pack was his aerial ability. At one time, Morant was ruthless against defenders near the rim. This season so far, he has only two dunks in seven games. Likewise, Jason Timff could maybe see the situation repaired. But he has some concerns about the player itself.

“I think it’s time for the Memphis Grizzlies to start thinking about the era after John Morant… And there’s really two reasons why I look at this situation with Jaws untenable for Memphis moving forward. On one hand, the consistent year-over-year decline and then on the other hand, a seeming unwillingness to accept any personal responsibility for it and a lack of self-awareness over what his role is in his current situation,” he said about the situation on his podcast.

Timff also highlighted Morant’s reduced activity at the rim, relying on an inconsistent jumper rather than attacking the rim. He feels Ja Morant’s quality is slipping, which is why the Grizzlies need to trade him and realign their strategy altogether.

But who takes over instead? Ja Morant is a player who significantly moves the needle. Yes, right now, he can’t extract joy out of basketball. Yet, the Grizzlies would much rather give it time in hopes of reviving their star. Because an unleashed Morant could see the team back in the postseason hunt.

Is it possible he never feels the same again in Memphis? Very much so. But with the friction just rising, there’s always hope for reconciliation. But if it does continue for the remainder of the season, the Grizzlies may just have to pull the plug. That also comes with accepting a lesser return due to Morant’s constant knack for controversies in recent times.

Nonetheless, if a trade does happen, it will be a sad day in Memphis. The fans love Ja Morant. But the sensational guard needs to show that he is still willing to fight for the city and his teammates by changing his mindset.