Ja Morant trade rumors swirled almost immediately after the Grizzlies' season ended in April, and none of it stemmed from anything related to the organization or his play. National media tried to stir the pot to get the star out of a city that is perceived as not being a destination for other players in the NBA to want to play in.
That notion was dispelled when Ja Morant came to the defense of the city and announced that he will be in the 901 (Memphis area code) in response to Stephen A. Smith's comments about the city while discussing the topic of whether he should be traded in June.