He very core of the Memphis Grizzlies seems distant. Ja Morant claims that not having his “joy” put his future into question. Clearly, there’s some rift between him and head coach Tuomas Iisalo. Morant’s been aloof on the court, seemingly unwilling to compete at times. That has prompted trade rumors. But the Grizzlies don’t feel so strongly about their cornerstone’s silent protest.

They feel the situation will work itself out. Because all signs point to frustrations beyond the incident that got Morant suspended. The Grizzlies are marred by injuries, and the two-time All-Star’s aggressiveness seems contained because of the physical toll he has faced in the past few years. Yet, the Grizzlies believe in him. And they think his joy will return once the entire team is back together.

“Going full rebuild may be out of the question. And the Grizzlies don’t want to do that. They believe the Morant/Jaren Jackson Jr. tandem is the foundation of a contender. They believe a return to health—Memphis, already, has been decimated by injuries—will lead to wins. This isn’t a team looking to sell Morant. It’s one looking to use the assets it has—including the bag of first-round draft picks it acquired from Orlando in the Desmond Bane trade last summer—to add pieces around him,” Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix wrote.

And the future could indeed look bright. Right now, the Grizzlies are missing some key figures. Scotty Pippen Jr., offseason acquisition Ty Jerome, and Brandon Clarke are long-term absences. Zach Edey is also on the sidelines but did move to the G-League to get some reps. These are players who can immediately have a winning impact. And success often correlates with joy.

At this moment, Ja Morant looks to have nothing to fight for. His guys are on the sidelines, unable to contribute. Furthermore, their future also looks promising with the five first-round picks the franchise got from trading Desmond Bane. But even then, they need Morant and Iisalo to be on the same page.

Unless that happens, even returning players won’t be able to salvage the situation. And teams are waiting for it all to blow up.

The West is actively monitoring Ja Morant’s situation

Ja Morant might be a little unsettled right now. But around the league, he is well respected. The two-time All-Star has led the Grizzlies to some famous victories. Additionally, he doesn’t fear the big moments; rather runs straight towards them. In light of his dissatisfied tenure with the Grizzlies, several teams could be hoping it grows worse.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, more than a few teams in the West are keeping a close eye. That includes the Minnesota Timberwolves. A few seasons ago, Morant and Anthony Edwards were battling for the mantle of being the ‘face of the league’. The former is still capable of producing at a high level.

For the Timberwolves to be alert, they could look to trade Rudy Gobert or even Julius Randle if they are desperate for Morant. Another team is the Sacramento Kings. Despite bringing in Russell Westbrook, the team has struggled to consistently win games.

Ja Morant could slot in as the starting point guard. His hunger to score and pace align with the Kings’ current structure. He could also learn a thing or two from Brodie, particularly staying healthy while being explosive. The Houston Rockets, who lost Fred VanVleet, are also said to be observing. But it’s unlikely they make such a splash after getting Kevin Durant in the offseason.

It all depends on how the relationship between Iisalo and Ja Morant develops. The Grizzlies head coach isn’t going to change his approach. He is direct with players and lays his demands straight. With health, maybe winning games will help Morant find his groove again. But if it doesn’t, gear up for a major trade.

Because Morant is still box office. And while the Grizzlies may not get the best return, the team that gets the 26-year-old will see a major lift in their confidence.