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Memphis Blues for Ja and the Grizzlies. Plus, Kuminga Demands Trade. | Real Ones
16 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
What's good?
Chapter 2: What prompted Jonathan Kuminga's trade request?
Logan Murdoch here for another edition of Real Ones with myself and Raja Bell. We get into the drama in Golden State. Gianna Kaminga trade request is a top story. Yes, it is. We'll get into the details as of why the soap opera going on with Golden State.
And then we get into the soap opera going on in Memphis by way of Germany with John Morant, who is caught on video trying to shoot the fair one with his teammate. And the ramifications of that from a league standpoint and a Memphis Grizzlies standpoint.
Then we get into a conversation of how we should treat our players when they leave the organization and what that means for the organization at large and the goals at hand. Then we get to our Ruin of the Week. Really, really fun episode. Me, Rajah Bell. Ruin's next. Cliff, play the theme music. What's poppin'? Ruin's Logan Murdoch here.
Chapter 3: What issues are arising with Ja Morant and the Grizzlies?
Rajah Bell there. Oh, man. We're in the season right now where it's like pre-trade season. I know we had the Trey Young thing that just went on, but we have two players that are in the midst of trade rumors at the highest proportion right now. And that is Jonathan Kaminga and John Morant. Let's start with Kaminga first. So I was at the Warriors game last night in the midst of...
in the midst of Jonathan Kaminga's trade request, which is very interesting because I haven't had the experience of a trade request from a player of Jonathan Kaminga's caliber be so big. Can you remember a time when a player like Jonathan Kaminga got this much attention for a trade request? A guy that is maybe like an eight man on the roster?
I would... Yeah, but in fairness to Jonathan Kaminga, probably shouldn't be the eighth man on the roster. So we could say, no, I have it. But his circumstances dictate that he's as low on the totem pole as he is. I think that's a manufactured totem pole slot, if you will.
Fair. I just, I mean, we're going to talk about him before we talk about John Morant, which tells you everything you need to know about where he is in the news cycle.
Chapter 4: How should the Warriors handle Kaminga's situation?
Ben Cruz is on the call. He might need to get off of it based on what we're about to talk about. So, um, he didn't play last night. Um, he has like a sore back issue or something like that. He hasn't played for a minute. Um, the last we've heard of him was a January 2nd game where he was supposed to play. Um, And he didn't get any time.
This was a game against the Thunder where basically all the starters were out. And there were some rumblings that maybe Jonathan wasn't actually hurt within the locker room last night. Steve Kerr said there was no rift between him and Kaminga, which, I mean, it was just a lot of lying going on last night. That's what we're doing.
Chapter 5: What does the future hold for Ja Morant in Memphis?
Yeah, Kerr said we're fine. We're doing okay. His teammates like him. He's handling himself well. There was from the veteran leadership of Steph Draymond and Jimmy Butler saying, it's not a distraction at all. This thing is not at all a distraction. We love JK. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, not them specifically, but the locker room is all telling stories about they can't stand him.
So it's a weird place that we're in right now with Jonathan Kaminga. Yeah.
Chapter 6: How do franchises celebrate their former players?
It's – it's also the trade market is weird for him. The Lakers have shown interest. I know the Kings still want him. The Mavs have shown some type of interest. But I just feel like Kaminga, for all of the gripes that he has, this seems like a case of when keeping it real goes wrong, right? Like because you're not playing, you are – doing trade demands.
And this is the season where you were supposed to ball out and show teams why you should, you know, warrant a huge extension in a contract. And this is happening basically when you're essentially on a one-year deal because he is on, I think a two year, 40 million, but one of the, uh, one of the years as a team option.
So, you know, like, I just, I think that both sides, the Warriors and Kaminga, have both just very much misplayed this.
Chapter 7: What impact does player treatment have on team culture?
And here we are. How should the Warriors navigate this right now? I mean, they're saying all the right things outwardly, no matter what the circumstances are internally. I just don't know what you do in a situation like this.
Uh, when you asked me, what should, I mean, it's ultimately what they do or like, how should they be handling? Like they're doing what they can do, which is, you know, get up at the podium, lie to everybody, um, you know, make, make, make it seem like less of a deal than it actually is.
Uh, I, I mean, his trade value, I don't even know what it would be at this point, but after you've got done lying to us and telling us everything is good and there's no problem here, then you need to trade him. Like what? I mean, that's where they're at.
Chapter 8: How do fans perceive the treatment of franchise pillars?
You have to move him. You want to move him. Steve Kerr does not want him there. They have no plans for him. Why would you? It would just be spiteful at this point, right? Like, why wouldn't you move him?
Well, it would be Joe Legov as being the reason why you wouldn't move him, right? Because he has ultimate veto power, and he's the reason why he's here right now.
Yeah, but, like, okay, fair. Let's dig, like, so... If ownership is going to mandate we keep something on the roster and coach and executives are going to say, hey, well, listen, brother, no matter whether he's here, regardless of who wants him here, we're not playing him. Then there needs to be a conversation had above Jonathan Kaminga. Like then someone we've got to pick a side here.
We can't be. Or Joe Lacob needs to say, all right, I get the point. You guys will never play him regardless. And I will take a step back, do what you will with him. Like, get me something else. But we can't live in both of those worlds where Joe Lacob wants him and we're not going to trade him for anything. But if you keep him here, we're never going to play him. Like, that's a wasted asset.
Like, why would you do that?
And then, like, I just don't see... I think there's no picks on the table for him. Nobody's giving up picks. Maybe there's going to be a salary swap in that situation. But, like...
I just – that's why I say over the – the last summer was just so bad for both parties because it was – they were both just trying to win a negotiation as opposed to actually doing what's best for both parties, right? Like Jonathan Kaminga did all of that and he got just above the qualifying offer and a team option on his contract, right?
Like – and just basically kicking the can down the road and the Warriors essentially – Because of this negotiation, their biggest pieces over the summer was Gary Payton, who they re-signed. De'Anthony Melton, who they re-signed. And Al Horford, right? They played against the Knicks last night, and the Knicks were battered.
And I feel bad for our guy, even though you don't want to be in the group chat with us and you don't love us anymore. But it's cool. Yeah. You don't want to be in our next group chat anymore. It's fine. It's fine. No worries. No worries. But the Warriors just have such a wonky roster, and there's so much just cloud around this team. I mean, it was a good moment.
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