Ja Morant's Cryptic Post After Memphis Grizzlies Trade

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The Memphis Grizzlies have officially traded former 10th overall pick Ziaire Williams to the Brooklyn Nets. In their announcement on the deal, the Grizzlies revealed the trade's entire details, writing the following:
"The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team acquired forward Mamadi Diakite (MAH-muh-dee dee-uh-KEY-tay) and the draft rights to wing Nemanja Dangubic (nay-MON-yah dahn-GUBE-itch), the 54th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, from the Brooklyn Nets for wing Ziaire Williams and a future second round draft pick."
This trade ends Williams' three-year run with the Grizzlies, but as his former teammate Ja Morant alluded to in a post on X, the 2021 lottery pick will be remembered in Memphis:
🎱♾️
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 19, 2024
This was a cryptic post from Morant that included just two emojis, but fans were able to quickly decode his message, which intended to communicate that Williams will forever be appreciated by the Grizzlies. With the eight ball emoji, Morant shared Williams' jersey number, and the infinity emoji suggests their connection will last forever.
I will always be so thankful for how great it was to work with Ziaire. https://t.co/DONPq7aoPd
— KJ (@kelwright) July 19, 2024
Morant shared a much less cryptic message on Instagram following the trade, Making his feelings towards Williams clear with a collection of pictures and words of appreciation:
Ja Morant on Instagram after Ziaire Williams trade to the Nets.
— NetsKingdom 👑🗽 (@NetsKingdomAJ) July 19, 2024
“This hurt not going to lie my brother , go be you killa just know I’m witcha.” pic.twitter.com/LlzbBHAtIa
In three years with the Grizzlies, Williams appeared in 150 games. Drafted 10th overall in 2021, Williams did not become the player the Grizzlies hoped he would become in Memphis, but he is still just 22 years old. Joining a Nets team that is rebuilding, Williams will have more opportunities than he would have had in Memphis next season.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.