A growing number of league voices believe the Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant may have already crossed the threshold toward an eventual separation.

What began as a season of renewed optimism has unraveled into a steady run of missteps and setbacks for Morant — from a sideline exchange with head coach Tuomas Iisalo, to conduct in a postgame interview that triggered a suspension, to a calf injury that has prolonged his absence. The momentum has shifted so dramatically that some front offices now view a trade as more likely than not, even as teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. has attempted to downplay concerns.

The discussion has intensified amid reports linking Memphis to guards who could be available, including Atlanta’s Trae Young and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball. Those names have surfaced as potential options should Morant’s tenure reach a breaking point, according to reporting from ESPN.

One faction across the league remains convinced Morant’s upside remains salvageable. The belief, they noted, comes from a résumé that still includes postseason success and a history of lifting a young roster beyond expectation.

In their reporting, ESPN described that viewpoint from around the league.

“That contingent of coaches, scouts, and executives considers Morant a more proven winner than Young and especially Ball, even though the Grizzlies have won only one playoff series in his career,” they wrote. “They believe Morant’s competitive fire can burn again in the right circumstances.”

That argument was echoed by one Western Conference executive who sees value in acquiring Morant if the opportunity arises.

“I think Ja is the one who can maybe be saved,” the executive said. “If he’s got to prove he can play [to get paid again], you can get him.”

But not everyone agrees that a revival is possible — especially within the environment that has defined Memphis’ season.

Another Western Conference executive took the opposite stance, saying the Grizzlies are already boxed into an unavoidable decision.

“It’s a gamble, but I truly believe that Ja will be fine at his next stop,” the executive said. “But [the Grizzlies are] going to have to move Ja. They don’t have a choice.”

The skepticism extends to Morant’s availability and production, two areas that have raised red flags among scouts evaluating whether the former No. 2 overall pick can return to his All-NBA form.

One scout offered a blunt assessment when asked about Morant’s trajectory.

“The combination of pain in the a**, injury prone, not that good anymore and big contract is a bad one,” the scout said, according to ESPN.

A Western Conference general manager, granted anonymity, pushed the concern even further.

“Ja has been going down, down, down,” the GM said. “I don’t know how much of that is due to motivation. You’ve got to be able to look under the hood. I’m just not sure about his health.”

For now, Memphis moves forward without its embattled star. The Grizzlies fell 126-119 to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, their latest setback in a season full of them. Morant’s most recent appearance came in a 133-120 loss to the New York Knicks, and his timetable remains uncertain.

As the team prepares to host the Clippers on Friday, the question that once seemed unthinkable has become unavoidable: has the Morant era in Memphis already neared its end?