Trade whispers swirl as Ja Morant faces another injury setback. Insiders reveal shifting league interest amidst his fluctuating availability and team's evolving strategy.
The conversation around Ja Morant has shifted once again, this time at the intersection of injury uncertainty and an increasingly uncomfortable trade reality for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis confirmed Saturday that Morant is dealing with a UCL sprain in his left elbow, suffered during a chase-down block attempt against the Atlanta Hawks. The injury came in just his second game back after missing time with a calf contusion.
The Grizzlies plan to re-evaluate him in three weeks, a timeline that conveniently lands around the All-Star break but offers no guarantee of a return.
However, recently, Grizzlies beat writer Damichael Cole talked about Morant's current outlook on the trade market, emphasizing that "nothing of substance" has transpired.
“Talking to people, I was getting the sense the last couple games that interest may have been picking up, not greatly,” Cole said. “Still nothing of substance. But given the injury history & now this injury, it doesn't feel like teams are going to be more inclined to trade for Ja.”
While elbow UCL injuries are far more common in baseball, injury analyst Jeff Stotts noted that mild-to-moderate cases in the NBA typically sideline players for roughly 22 days, or about 11–12 games.
That means Morant could realistically miss the rest of Memphis’ road trip and return sometime after the break, with Feb. 20 against the Utah Jazz looming as a logical target.
Additionally, for the first time in Morant’s seven-year career, Memphis is reportedly listening to trade offers. That decision alone represents a significant philosophical shift for a franchise that once viewed Morant as untouchable.
But the injury only complicates things further. Morant has now been available for just 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists. Though the numbers are respectable, but far from the All-NBA-level production that once defined him.
Availability, not talent, has become the defining issue. And for the most part, league insiders have framed the situation bluntly. Memphis is not actively shopping Morant in a fire sale, but it is no longer hanging up the phone.
At the same time, Morant’s injury removes urgency from both sides. Teams are unlikely to make aggressive offers while his health remains uncertain, and the Grizzlies gain little by forcing a decision before seeing how he responds to rest.
In short, this is not a trade deadline story in the traditional sense. It is a longer-burning evaluation of direction.
Memphis must decide whether it still believes Morant can be the centerpiece of a sustainable contender, or whether his availability concerns, combined with the team’s stagnant progress, demand a reset.