Ja Morant couldn't believe it.
He thought it was fake.
Or to quote Morant more directly from his comments to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal newspaper: "I thought the s— was was fake, honestly."
He's talking about the Desmond Bane trade to the Orlando Magic, a move that moved Memphis a step away from contention.
The Grizzlies got first-round ammunition back, but Morant's backcourt partner is gone.
“I got the message from Des," Morant told the Commercial-Appeal. "... It’s best for both sides. Des is going to a very talented Orlando team. I feel like he’s the piece that they’ve been missing.”
MORE: Cooper Flagg admits he made his mom upset during 31-point game
Morant clearly wants to see Bane do well, and he probably will. Playing with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in Orlando, Bane should help the Magic contend near the top of the East.
It's just a bummer for Morant, who will have to move forward on a lesser team and try to challenge for a playoff spot in a brutally tough West.
MORE NBA NEWS:
- Thunder rookie forgets which way he's going and scores first NBA bucket on wrong hoop
- Mavs set to snap 28-year Wurzburg, Germany streak
- Knicks' Ariel Hukporti has the most foreboding contract setup in the entire NBA
- Bronny James' last-shot decision let the Mavs off the hook
- How good was LeBron at football? NBA legend would have been 'one of the best' in NFL
- Steph Curry gives update on retiring