Ja Morant would fix the Miami Heat. Right? He's the exact type of dynamic point guard the team has desperately searched for over the past decade, and he theoretically fits beautifully in between Tyler Hero and Bam Adebayo. His playmaking, scoring, and athleticism would be a thrill to watch in Erik Spoelstra's system.
But also... Ja Morant would ruin the Miami Heat, right? We've watched his relationship with the Grizzlies deteriorate quickly, hence why we're even discussing a trade in the first place. It has not been cordial, it has not been pretty, and it has not been the best marketing pitch for other potential teams willing to deal for him.
Less than a year removed from another star, Jimmy Butler, leaving Miami in a fiery blaze, fans probably aren't too keen on taking on another outsized personality — especially one who has struggled to stay on the floor both due to suspensions and injuries.
In other words, is Morant worth the trouble for a team just getting over another troublesome star? You can't fault Heat fans for thinking that way. Personally, I don't think he is right now; even beyond all off-court problems, and Morant's list of those gets longer frequently, he's been hurt more often than he's been healthy for the past four years. That's not an aberration. At some point, that becomes the norm. We're at that point!
Heat fans might not want to deal with another disgruntled star
Granted, the idea for acquiring Morant is that he'd no longer be disgruntled once he got to Miami. Unfortunately, that sounds awfully similar to the Jimmy Butler fiasco. Sure, things ended poorly in Chicago and Minnesota and flamed out in Philly, but Miami can fix him, surely!
I think the lesson here is that if a player tends to be disgruntled, it might be foolish for a franchise to keep assuming they can gruntle him, no matter how solid that franchise's foundation is.
I have defended Ja Morant. Even now, I refuse to give up on a future in which he leads a team deep into the playoffs. But the star guard now seems hellbent on turning even his most adamant defenders against him, and acquiring a player like that is a tough sell, no matter how great the payoff could be.
The best case scenario would be Morant becoming the face of "Heat Culture," fixing his reputation, and once again leading an explosive offensive team. Worst case scenario would be the whole thing exploding in a different way, Morant and the Heat front office not getting along and the Heat eventually having to trade Morant once more for an even less exciting package than it traded Jimmy for.
There will always be a star available for trade in the NBA. That's just how things work now. Even with how perfectly Ja would fit if everything went according to plan, the franchise is better off waiting for someone they can rely on. As fans know from recent experience, the alternative is not fun.