SACRAMENTO — Zach Edey — yes, Zach Edey — was out there looking like Wilt Chamberlain.
Scoring at will against the Sacramento Kings as if they were a Purdue opponent from his old college days. Grabbing every rebound that came his way. And with 39 seconds left at Golden 1 Center on Sunday night, when the once-wayward Memphis Grizzlies won for the fifth time in their past six games, there was Edey, swatting Maxime Raynaud’s floater with such ferocity that a joyful Ja Morant posed — Statue of Liberty style — with his finger pointed to the sky. He even added a Dikembe Mutombo finger wag for good measure.
It had been a month since Morant’s friction with Memphis’ new coaching staff was front and center, with Morant — who was hardly the only one frustrated by the new system that had been installed — suspended for one game by the team after he vented to reporters following an Oct. 31 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. It had been nine days since he trash-talked Klay Thompson in the kind of way that sparked widespread criticism (again), with the future Hall of Famer’s postgame message to Morant spot-on when it came to the issues that have long surrounded him.
“And then with Ja…he’s a funny guy…has a lot to say, especially for a guy that rarely takes accountability.”
Klay Thompson doesn’t hold back on Ja Morant pic.twitter.com/BlpkswGhIv
— DLLS Mavs (@DLLS_Mavs) November 23, 2025
If those two moments were all you knew about the most recent dynamics in Memphis, you’d wonder why general manager Zach Kleiman hadn’t traded the two-time All-Star to the highest bidder already. Especially considering Morant, who has been out since mid-November with a calf injury, has looked nothing short of awful in the 12 games he has played to this point.
But to spend an evening watching Morant in Sacramento was to realize that this relationship hasn’t reached its breaking point just yet. In stark contrast to those early days of this season, when Morant’s bad body language and lackluster performances sparked so much speculation that he had quit on his team, he was the most spirited supporter in the Grizzlies bunch.
Engaged during timeouts. Talkative with his teammates and coaches from beginning to end. Not checked out on this Memphis experience after all, apparently. (Nor his famous father, Tee Morant, by the way, as he was also seated courtside in Sacramento).
“It’s a huge advantage for us,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo, who took over for the fired Taylor Jenkins late last season and was given the job full-time in the offseason, said of Morant. “It’s during the games. He’s … asking stuff of me and giving some tips there for the guys. Overall, really good communication, really good leadership, both from him and also from Jaren (Jackson Jr.) and our veteran guys.”
Zach Edey dominated the Kings with 32 points and 17 rebounds as the Grizzlies won for the fifth time in their last six games. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
Morant has dominated the league-wide rumor mill ever since he sparked headlines on Halloween. Yet the combination of his contract (a combined $87 million in the next two seasons), health concerns and his myriad of controversies has led to a clear conclusion among rival executives: It’s a buyer’s market when it comes to the (fallen) two-time All-Star.
The Grizzlies know this, of course, just like they know Morant simply must rediscover his form for them to (a) return to winning at a high level when he returns and (b) have any leverage in the trade talks that will keep coming their way as the February deadline nears. To this point, there’s a reason so much of the focus on possible Morant trade scenarios in league circles has been, in essence, on the concept of one team swapping its imperfect former All-Star for another team’s (the Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young for Morant; the Kings’ Zach LaVine for Morant — that sort of thing).
But amid all of that, there’s a key question among possible suitors that, to some degree, can be answered even when he’s not playing: Is he going to be a headache for our team? It was only one night, to be sure, but the version of Morant that was on display against the Kings was anything but.
“He’s a coach right now,” Jackson said of Morant. “He’s coaching, just like he does with ‘Twelve-Time’ in AAU (Morant’s Memphis-based program). He’s doing his thing. He knows the game. He’s a point guard. So they kind of see the floor very well. And he just says what he’s seeing, talking us through things.”
Added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: “(Morant’s support) has been good. He’s been cheering the team on, helping the young guys out as far as the point guard position, talking to everybody and saying what he’s seeing on the bench. So that’s great for us, him being there — taking the next step on being that leader, being that vocal leader. I think he’s doing a great job at it.”
None of which means I’m ready to declare this sensitive situation resolved just yet. Not even close.
Teams such as Sacramento and the Minnesota Timberwolves (and likely many more) that were known to be monitoring the situation before will continue to do so, all while watching closely when Morant returns (his initial timeline had him slated for a possible early December return). Still, the Grizzlies going from their loud and ugly 4-11 start to this quiet and impressive bounce-back (now 9-12) is enough to make these next few months all the more interesting in Memphis. The back end of the West is so bad this season that the Grizzlies are already in playoff position despite their sub-.500 mark, and they’re only 3 1/2 games back of the sixth spot.
“We started this season (with) chaotic circumstances, with guys having to learn new positions, having missed the preseason and some injuries to our primary handlers,” Iisalo said. “Guys have just put their heads down, (keep) working from day to day. We were just talking about it after the (Kings) game, that this type of win and this road trip overall just brings a lot of belief in the work that we’re doing, and there’s a purpose to it. Ultimately, that’s what you want from your professional life is to do something that has meaning. We found that in the work we do on a daily basis, and it’s paying off for us.”
If they keep this up, then the questions about a possible fire sale — one that extends beyond Morant — would surely fade. That’s still a major “if” at the moment, though, even if Jackson claims it’s now part of their plan.
“We were injured (early on this season), you know?” said Jackson, who signed a five-year, $240 million extension in the summer. “We have a new coach and a new system. You’re going to have some growing pains with that. I think people freak out kind of early, but that’s a part of life.”
So, I asked, can he truly see this group growing into a contender?
“The vision is there,” he said. “The vision is there. Winter is coming.”
And then he walked away, smirk and all, while humming the tune from “Game of Thrones.” Yes, seriously.
What a difference a Memphis month can make.
