Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show – “Does Ja Still Rule in Memphis? Plus, the NBA’s Most Underwhelming Teams So Far.”

Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Logan Murdock, Howard Beck, Cliff
Tone: Candid, sharp, lightly irreverent, full of generational banter

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the unfolding Ja Morant saga in Memphis, discussing how his relationship with the Grizzlies appears to be unraveling. Logan and Howard analyze the shifting dynamics within the team, how Memphis is preparing for a future without their former franchise star, and survey what a trade might look like—if Ja is even tradable at this point. The conversation expands to compare Ja’s situation with Zion Williamson’s challenges in New Orleans before transitioning to a roundtable on the NBA’s most underwhelming teams so far: Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta, Dallas, and the Knicks. Banter and pop culture references keep the discussion lively.

1. The Ja Morant–Memphis Grizzlies Divorce (01:58–30:58)

Background and Escalation

• Logan recaps Ja’s journey:

  • Drafted in 2019, electrified Memphis, led them past the Warriors in a play-in, and received an extension (02:30).
  • Off-court incidents: IG gun video, alleged assault, recurring suspensions.
  • Tensions with coaching changes; Ja’s preferences ignored—his favored assistant and then Taylor Jenkins replaced, new coach instilled a less Ja-centric offense.

• Howard’s inside reporting:

  • “The offense was not exactly catering to Ja, and it was not something that Ja was particularly thrilled with.” (05:45)
  • GM Zach Kleiman publicly defended Ja but recently was forced to suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team.
  • “These situations don’t generally just calm down on their own, Logan. … If the star player and the coach are not aligned, the team at some point has to pick sides.” (06:53)

• Evidence Memphis is moving on:

  • Trading away Ja’s close teammate Desmond Bane.
  • Committing to Jaren Jackson Jr. with a max extension, not Ja.
  • Team’s record without Ja is consistently competitive (see stats quoted at 09:24).

• Community and culture:

  • However, Ja remains beloved in Memphis, seen as the post–"grit-and-grind" era’s face (10:22).
  • “Ja Morant is a symbol of getting out of the ‘grit and grind’ era…he’s the adopted native son. But eventually, there’s going to be a clash.” (11:40)

Trade Scenarios: Who Wants Ja?

• Howard breaks down the market:

  • At most, 8–9 teams could logically want Ja (“It only takes one”–classic NBA maxim, 16:40).
  • Possible suitors: Miami, Kings, maybe the Pelicans, but all are deeply caveated.
  • Kings are “the Knicks of the 2000s,” desperate enough to “try anything.” (20:56)
  • Miami has the culture to attempt superstar rehab, could see themselves as Ja-fixers (22:15).

• Trade will be hard:

  • Ja’s value is “so degraded from where it was… He’s not…winning you games right now.” (23:18)
  • Huge contract and injury history—38% games played over the last 3 seasons (13:52).

Is a Trade Imminent?

• Howard’s prediction:
  • “It just feels like this thing is too tense…I don’t see how this resolves… I’m gonna say he gets dealt by the trade deadline.” (27:59)
• Logan’s counter:
  • Memphis might sell a trade to fans by referencing competitive records without Ja. (28:38)
  • Ultimately, a Memphis–Ja split feels “inevitable” (24:51).

Memorable Quotes:

• “There are no good paths here…If you keep him, I don’t think things go real well…and everybody gets fired anyway. You trade him…well, you’re hoping for the best.” —Howard Beck (30:21)
• “Every league needs at least one franchise that’s just willing to take on anybody and be the salary dispensary.” —Logan (25:19)

2. The NBA’s Most Underwhelming Teams (31:24–53:40)

A. New Orleans Pelicans & Zion Williamson (36:21)

• Cliff: Zion’s FG% is at a career low; “the Pelicans…just kind of not good at all…They don’t have their pick next season.”
• Logan raises a debate: Who would you rather trade for: Ja or Zion?
• Howard can’t decide: “I don’t trust either one to stay healthy.” (37:02)
• Logan leans Zion for contract flexibility and versatility.
• Howard’s verdict: “You’re taking your life in your hands with either one.” (38:38)
• The Pelicans “have nothing going for them.” Even their arena gets roasted (39:43).

B. New York Knicks (40:17)

• Are they underwhelming?
  • “The Knicks are 4–3. Do you know what they were through seven games last season? 3–4.” (40:47)
  • Mike Brown’s new offense, injuries (Josh Hart’s wrist, Mitchell Robinson’s vague status). Bench not great, problems similar to last year.
  • Logan: “When your best players don’t play defense…that’s hard.”

C. Atlanta Hawks (43:33)

• Trey Young out for a month complicates evaluation.
• Howard: “I’m worried about them…They need a point guard.” (44:10)
• Rosters in transition; this year is supposed to be ‘one last go’ with this core.
• Logan: “Similar to Memphis, it seems like a two-track plan for Atlanta…not the worst thing if they’re underwhelming. They’ll be fine.” (47:01)
• “To the extent that you want to get clarity about whether this is the right set of players around Trey…it’s really important.” —Howard (47:51)

D. Dallas Mavericks (48:06)

• Early record: 2–5. Cooper Flagg forced to play point guard; Anthony Davis overweight and already hurt; Klay Thompson aging out.
• Logan: “Nico Harrison put together this weird roster of…vets that want to compete and all these young guys. They should just have a plan, pick a direction.” (49:00)
• Howard: “They’re not a disappointment. They just are what Nico Harrison constructed.” (53:02)
• “No established point guard…super playmaking light. Yeah, they need Kyrie back. But is it even salvageable this year?” (52:02)

3. Mailbag: Kings Pain, Load Management & More (54:21–60:29)

Kings Woes and the Case for a Rebuild

• Listener Alex laments the “fantasy team someone autodrafts based on five-year-old player rankings.”
• Howard’s take: “There are no untouchables on that roster…I’d be gauging the value on everybody. Yeah, I’d be rebuilding.” (57:12)
• Logan: “Don’t hold your breath. Go back to the old days where you just went to go watch the other team for a really good price.” (57:20)

Load Management & Aggregate Stats

• Listener Jeremy Briggs asks: Should we switch to total stats to combat load management?
• Howard: “It doesn’t solve anything…the NBA has always been about the averages…and load management is not because players don’t want to play, it’s because teams are protecting their investments.” (58:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Memphis situation:
  • “Memphis is working as if they’re building for a future without Ja.” —Logan (12:40)
• On underwhelming teams:
  • “If you look at that [Dallas] roster…there was no way they were going to be a contender other than [to] a few people in the front office, certainly. Oh, and a few Ringer people.” —Logan (51:40)
• On generational (mis)understandings:
  • “Clearly I’m not one with you. I have no idea what you’re saying for about like 30% of the pod today.” —Howard (54:04)

Key Timestamps

• 01:58–13:42: Ja Morant–Memphis timeline, coaching front office tension, signs of pending split
• 16:40–24:51: Trade suitors, market for Ja, Kings & Miami scenarios
• 27:57–30:58: Timeline prediction for a Ja trade
• 31:24–39:43: Underwhelming teams—Pelicans focus, Ja vs. Zion
• 40:17–42:56: Knicks discussion
• 43:33–47:51: Atlanta Hawks, Trey Young’s absence
• 48:06–53:40: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, front office confusion
• 54:21–57:12: Mailbag—Kings, rebuild pathways
• 57:33–60:29: Load management, aggregate stats, generational banter

Final Thoughts

This Real Ones episode masterfully weaves league analysis and inside perspective with banter and cultural context. The biggest takeaways:

• Ja Morant and the Grizzlies are on an inevitable collision course that looks set to end soon—and possibly with the Kings as Ja’s next team.
• Underachievement is a running theme for Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, and Atlanta, but the underlying causes vary (injury, weird rosters, bad luck, or outright front office confusion).
• Front offices are now more willing to pull the plug and move forward rather than ride out troubled stars.
• The league’s current structure (with hard-cap, new CBA) makes reckoning with aging or underperforming max players more urgent than ever.

For NBA fans wanting the story behind the headlines—this discussion delivers both insight and entertainment.