Overview
- Morant served a one-game team suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, then returned with 18 points and 10 assists on 5-of-16 shooting with five turnovers in a loss to Detroit.
- After his return, he told reporters he has lost his joy playing in Memphis and bristled at questions, signaling continued tension with the organization.
- The Kings and Timberwolves are described as monitoring the situation, while the Rockets are viewed as unlikely suitors and no formal trade talks have been reported.
- ESPN’s Marc J. Spears said multiple executives expressed no interest in trading for Morant, with concerns ranging from his contract and trade bonus to off-court history and fit.
- Memphis leadership is reported to prefer keeping Morant as injured rotation players return under Tuomas Iisalo, whose shorter, higher-intensity substitution patterns have been cited as a friction point.