Memphis Grizzlies

James Harden hasn’t shared a backcourt with a star as athletic as Ja Morant since Russell Westbrook. To be clear, we’re talking about the Westbrook from Oklahoma City.

Morant and his Grizzlies have been one of the pleasant surprises of the 2021-22 season. They’ve taken a major step forward. By now, they’ve earned the right to be viewed as title contenders. They’d be even closer with James Harden in the fold.

Joining forces with the Grizzlies would be a passing of the torch moment. At 32, Harden is beginning to show signs of decline. That may be owed to his lingering hamstring issues.

It’s still hard to deny Father Time’s record. Pairing him with Morant would allow him to grow into a role befitting his age.

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He’d be the second option. That’s fine. After breaking individual records that hadn’t been touched since Wilt Chamberlain, playing second fiddle to a talent like Morant on the Grizzlies won’t hurt his legacy if they win a championship.

At this point, nothing else matters anyway.