Injury sidelined Ja Morant, but his trade speculation remains alive. Insiders reveal the Grizzlies are still open to inquiries, balancing return value and player concerns.
Trade speculation around Ja Morant was already simmering before this week. His latest injury has only added another to the already uncertain scenario.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced that Morant is dealing with a sprained UCL in his left elbow and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. That timeline effectively rules him out through the NBA trade deadline on February 5, placing Memphis in an awkward position as it weighs whether to move the player it once viewed as its franchise cornerstone.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the injury has not shut down trade conversations entirely.
“My sense is that the Grizzlies remain more than open to trade inquiries for Morant,” Stein reported, while also noting that Memphis is under pressure to secure a stronger return than what Atlanta accepted in its Trae Young deal.
That balance is the crux of the issue. Morant is younger than Young and, at his peak, one of the league’s most explosive guards. At the same time, off-court baggage, durability concerns, and declining efficiency have significantly cooled the market.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Morant has appeared in just 79 games due to suspensions and injuries. This year, he is averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists, while posting career-worst shooting marks from the field and from three.
The timing of the elbow injury is particularly frustrating for both sides. In his most recent outings, Morant was beginning to resemble his old self. He looked sharp in his return game in London against the Orlando Magic and followed it with another strong performance against the Atlanta Hawks before going down late.
While the Grizzlies expect a full recovery, the uncertainty is enough to give potential suitors pause.
Leaguewide context is also working against Memphis at the current moment. Morant’s market was already considered light, with teams like the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat linked more loosely than aggressively.
Meanwhile, larger dominoes, most notably Giannis Antetokounmpo, are occupying front offices as teams wait to see if true superstar movement materializes.
Behind the scenes, the relationship between Morant and the organization appears strained. Stein noted that Memphis has openly shopped him and, at times, prioritized head coach Tuomas Iisalo over Morant in internal decision-making.
For now, the most realistic outcome may be patience. With Morant sidelined and the deadline approaching, Memphis could find it difficult to extract the value it believes he still holds. That sets up a scenario where Morant remains with the Grizzlies through February, with a potentially volatile offseason looming instead.