Morant's elbow sprain persists, sidelining him further. The Grizzlies face tough decisions about his return, with trade rumors swirling.
Ja Morant will miss at least two more weeks after follow-up imaging showed his UCL sprain has not fully healed, the Memphis Grizzlies announced Friday.
Morant has been out since Jan. 21 and continues to experience discomfort in the elbow. The team said he will be re-evaluated in two weeks, leaving open the possibility that the 26-year-old point guard may not return at all this season.
Memphis is 23-28 and has traded away two of its former cornerstones in recent months — Desmond Bane went to Orlando last summer, and Jaren Jackson Jr. was dealt to Utah in February — moves that signal the organization is prioritizing the future over the present. If Morant's next evaluation does not show meaningful improvement, the Grizzlies may see little reason to rush him back.
He has played in just 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from three-point range. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome have been running the backcourt in his absence.
Staying healthy has proven difficult for Morant throughout his career. Earlier this season, he missed more than a month with a right calf strain before the elbow problem surfaced. In 2024-25, he missed 32 games with a posterior hip subluxation and pelvic muscle strains. His 2023-24 season lasted nine games before right shoulder surgery ended it in January. He has played 50 or more games in a season twice in six years.
The injury comes at a complicated time for Morant's standing with the franchise. Memphis explored trading him before the February deadline but found little interest. The Sacramento Kings showed modest curiosity, and the Miami Heat made inquiries, though their preferred structure — an asset-light deal similar to Washington's acquisition of Trae Young — never gained traction. Miami's attention ultimately shifted to Giannis Antetokounmpo as the deadline approached.
The Grizzlies are expected to revisit trade discussions this offseason. The Milwaukee Bucks could be a candidate, with several teams leaving deadline conversations believing Milwaukee's interest in Morant was genuine — either as a long-term replacement for Antetokounmpo or as a potential pairing alongside him.
Morant signed a five-year, $197.2 million maximum rookie extension in July 2022 that runs through the 2027-28 season. The contract is fully guaranteed. He is earning $39.4 million this season, and his salary reaches $44.9 million in the final year. The deal includes a 15% trade kicker, which would increase his salary by that percentage if he is dealt.
The former Murray State standout and No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft was among the league's most electric players during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, when he averaged 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists and helped Memphis finish second in the Western Conference both years.
His path changed course in 2023-24, when he was suspended 25 games for conduct detrimental to the league following two separate incidents in which he displayed a firearm on social media.
Memphis plays the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.