Overview of Memphis Blues for Ja and the Grizzlies. Plus, Kuminga Demands Trade. | Real Ones
This episode of Real Ones (The Ringer) — hosted by Logan Murdock and Raja Bell — focuses on two NBA soap‑operas: Jonathan Kuminga’s trade demand and the Ja Morant locker‑room/behavior drama after a viral video in Berlin. The hosts unpack what each situation reveals about team culture, roster construction, front‑office decision making, league optics (especially for NBA international business), and how organizations should treat departing stars and alumni. The episode closes with the hosts’ weekly picks (Real One(s) of the Week and a “Ruin/commendation” pick).
Main topics covered
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Jonathan Kuminga trade request and the turmoil in Golden State
- Kuminga’s limited playing time, injury excuse narrative, and public trade demand.
- Conflicting public statements from Steve Kerr and veteran players vs. locker‑room sentiment.
- Front‑office friction: Joe Lacob’s role, ownership vs. coaching/executive control.
- Trade market: Lakers, Kings, Mavericks reportedly interested; uncertainty about market value given limited minutes and team positioning.
- Broader questions about roster construction, organizational mismanagement, and Steph Curry’s late‑career optics.
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Ja Morant incident and Memphis situation
- Viral video from Berlin shows Morant in a confrontation with a teammate (lip‑reading discussed but no full reporting).
- The episode contextualizes this as another escalation in a long, messy relationship between Morant and the Grizzlies.
- League implications: incident occurred during an NBA international event — bad optics for NBA’s overseas growth and Adam Silver’s messaging.
- Discussion of whether Memphis should have moved on earlier, the tension between protecting a franchise face vs. preserving trade value, and how organizations sometimes make a player’s life uncomfortable to justify a separation.
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How franchises should treat departing stars and alumni
- Examples: Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love receiving standing ovations; Dirk/ Mavericks tension as a counterexample.
- Benefits of keeping alumni close: culture, optics, recruiting future talent, fan relations.
- Phoenix Suns (new ownership) praised for reconnecting with former players like Raja Bell.
Key takeaways
- Both Kuminga and Morant cases expose how misaligned incentives and slow decision‑making create toxic environments that hurt player value and team culture.
- Golden State’s situation shows the danger of mixed messaging from ownership and staff; if the team won’t play a player, they should either trade him or commit to integrating him properly.
- Memphis dragged the Morant situation out and now faces a messy break that affects the franchise, the player’s reputation, and the league’s international branding.
- Teams sometimes intentionally degrade a player’s role to make departure palatable to fans — but that also erodes trade value and can be self‑defeating.
- Treating franchise pillars well after they leave is smart long‑term organizational behavior — it preserves culture, aids recruiting, and keeps fans engaged.
Notable insights & quotes
- “When keeping it real goes wrong” — Kuminga’s honesty and the team’s handling created a lose‑lose.
- “After you’ve got done lying to us … then you need to trade him.” — Argument that Warriors have reached the point where moving Kuminga is the only realistic option unless ownership chooses otherwise.
- “This is interfering with bigger business than the Memphis Grizzlies.” — Ja Morant’s behavior in Berlin is bad for NBA international strategy, not just Memphis.
- Raja Bell’s first‑hand perspective: teams sometimes make a player’s life miserable to create the narrative that justifies a trade/dismissal — and that can devalue the player.
Recommendations / action items (from hosts’ discussion)
- For Golden State:
- Decide: either commit to playing/integrating Kuminga or trade him now before his value declines further.
- Ownership (Joe Lacob) needs to align with coaching/executive decisions — can’t operate in two opposing modes (keep him but bench him).
- For Memphis:
- Stop dragging the process out; make a clear organizational decision (trade, rehab and reintegrate, or a firm behavioral plan) to stop public deterioration.
- Consider the optics of how you handle a hometown star — defaulting to degrading a star’s role to justify separation is costly.
- For all franchises:
- Preserve alumni relationships whenever possible (standing ovations, invites, open door) — it boosts culture and recruiting.
- Balance short‑term wins vs. long‑term cultural costs when deciding how to treat departing pillars.
Context & timeline notes
- Jonathan Kuminga: limited minutes of late, reportedly on a low salary with a team option; public trade interest from Lakers/Kings/Mavericks reported but unclear compensation.
- Ja Morant: incident occurred in Berlin during NBA promotional events; adds to a history of off‑court incidents and strained relationships with Memphis.
- Steve Kerr’s status: staff speculation about Kerr’s future, adding to Golden State instability.
- The hosts reference historical examples (Giannis, KD, LeBron, Dirk, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love) to illustrate varied trajectories when superstars leave or are mistreated.
Segments & picks
- Real One(s) of the Week:
- Rajah Bell: Miami Hurricanes (national championship run) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (for his standing‑ovation moment and relationship with fans).
- Logan Murdock’s pick:
- Praised Ryan Coogler (Golden Globes success) — highlighted as a local inspiration and creator on a generational run.
- Closing: reminder that Real Ones airs Tuesdays and Fridays; listener mailbag invitation.
Quick summary (one‑line)
An episode about two parallel NBA crises — Kuminga’s trade demand and Ja Morant’s Berlin incident — used to explore how teams handle player departures, the costs of indecision or mixed messaging, and why treating franchise figures well matters for culture, value, and league optics.