Murray State point guard Ja Morant says he’s going to be happy wherever he gets drafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, which is on June 20.
Morant is widely expected to be selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick.
Ja Morant: "If a team drafts me – small market or big market – I'm going to be happy where I'm at." pic.twitter.com/t6fnKug13c
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 17, 2019
Morant averaged 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game this season for Murray State. The explosive guard shot 49.9 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line.
The Grizzlies still need a head coach after firing J.B. Bickerstaff. The franchise was last linked to Lithuania’s Sarunas Jasikevicius.
If Memphis takes Morant, they will have two key young cornerstones to build around. Big man Jaren Jackson Jr. had a sound rookie season in 2018-19. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
Morant has said multiple times he enjoys passing more than scoring. Ja is a threat to get a triple-double every game and would play really well with Jackson.
The Grizzlies still have veteran point guard Mike Conley on the roster, but they will probably trade him this summer if they select Morant. Memphis was close to trading Conley at the February trade deadline.
Morant’s favorite player in the league is Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook. It’s evident when watching him play that Ja emulates Westbrook’s energy and passion for the game.