A significant setback: The Memphis Grizzlies have made it official that they will be selling the all-time great player who wasn’t the main target for sale.
Not as encouraging was the All-NBA announcement that came one day after the Memphis Grizzlies celebrated the selection of two players to the All-Defensive team. Though both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, the premier players for the Grizzlies, were chosen for the NBA All-Premier squad, none of them were chosen for one of the 15 positions on the three All-NBA teams for the 2022–2023 season.
Prior to the New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat game on Wednesday, the results were live-announced on TNT. Despite being named First Team All-Defense and winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson had little chance of making any of the three All-NBA teams. With so many guards in the mix this season, Morant did not make the All-NBA second team as he did the previous year. For Morant, this is a costly option.
A super-max trigger was included in the agreement he signed during the winter if he was selected for the All-NBA team this year. Morant stated before the season that he wanted to receive the contract bonus.
His max extension will now account for 25% of the Grizzlies’ salary space rather than 30%, which is a difference of little more than $39 million over five seasons, given that he was not selected for an All-NBA team.
In addition to its contractual significance, Morant’s All-NBA case generated a lot of discussion due to his personal issues off the court.
This season, Morant received an eight-game suspension for behavior that was detrimental to the team after he was seen on social media live brandishing a gun at a Colorado nightclub. Although Morant expressed regret for his behavior in the aftermath, league voters cast their ballots around one month following his event. That harmed Morant’s chances, as did a crowded field of skilled guards.
