We all knew a Ja Morant suspension was coming, but we didn’t know how long it would last. On Friday morning, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Morant would be suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA season. Morant quickly released an apologetic statement. Yet despite — or perhaps due to the length of — Morant’s suspension, the Memphis Grizzlies have seen their odds to win next season’s NBA title improve at FanDuel Sportsbook.
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Ja Morant Suspension: Memphis Grizzlies Odds … Improve?
Memphis Grizzlies 2023-24 Betting Odds
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
NBA Championship: +2300 (was +3000)
Western Conference: +1200
After the 2023 NBA Finals wrapped up with the Denver Nuggets beating the Miami Heat in five games, sportsbooks were quick to release odds for next season’s champion. Unsurprisingly, the Nuggets topped the charts at 5-1. Memphis clocked in at only 30-1.
Ja Morant was the other story of the NBA Finals. Adam Silver told the media that a disciplinary decision on Morant’s behavior would come after the NBA Finals out of respect for both teams still competing for a championship. With a champion determined, it was time for the other shoe to drop.
With all uncertainty surrounding the length of Morant’s suspension dispelled, the market reacted quickly. The Grizzlies’ odds improved from 30-1 (3.2%) to 23-1 (4.2%) at FanDuel to win next year’s title. Although that translates to an increase of only 1%, it rocketed Memphis into a tie for the fifth-best odds in the conference.
Memphis will likely need to make meaningful offseason moves to become a contender next year. They have a deep roster, full of players who are above replacement level, but they lack a second star to pair with Morant. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane both likely slot in best as third- and fourth options for a championship-winning team.
The Grizzlies will part ways with now-infamous wing Dillon Brooks this offseason, which frees up some space on their roster and in their budget. The team would be well served to add some additional veteran presence (perhaps Bradley Beal?) to nip any future maturity issues in the bud.
The news also means that Morant won’t be eligible to win the 2023-24 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. The public sportsbooks in the U.S. haven’t opened the futures market for the award, but if any offer Morant, know that he’ll be ineligible due to the new requirement that players suit up for at least 65 games. Morant’s 25-game suspension means he can suit up for at most 57 regular-season games.
