Ja Morant’s Strong Reaction to Major NBA Trade on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 NBA offseason is shaping up to be historic, packed with shocking moves and shifting allegiances as contenders and rebuilders attempt to reshape their futures. This summer, major stars have driven trade speculation, while teams across both conferences have taken bold swings in pursuit of championships.
On Sunday, the Orlando Magic dropped the offseason’s first blockbuster by acquiring sharpshooter Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the package involved a stunning haul of four unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony—a move that rocked the basketball world.
That trade dismantled Memphis’s trio of Ja Morant, Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., a core that delivered four playoff appearances but only one series win.
With Bane gone, the Grizzlies have officially begun a reset that perhaps involves prioritizing draft assets and building around Morant and Jackson.
Following the news, Morant took to his Instagram story, posting a photo with Bane, with a strong caption:
“Same shii gang 🤝🏿 Shii tough but we 🔒 forever. Go be great brudda”
Ja Morant reacts to the Desmond Bane trade: pic.twitter.com/NGQCKrfOns
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) June 15, 2025
Morant and Bane shared the court for five years, and helped the Grizzlies reach the second seed in the Western Conference for two consecutive seasons. Together, they formed one of the NBA’s brightest backcourts.
Bane’s departure also sparked fresh rumors surrounding Morant’s future in Memphis. With the franchise pivoting toward youth acquisition, teams around the league are already probing whether Morant could potentially be on his way out.
It remains to be seen whether Sunday’s trade may have marked the start of the Grizzlies franchise completely blowing up its core.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.