Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant will miss at least 3 weeks of action due to a UCL sprain in his left elbow the team announced.
That timeline would put him out past the NBA trade deadline on February 5th, though a team could still very well make a move to acquire the disgruntled guard. With 2 years, and $87M remaining on his contract, Morant has been linked to Toronto and Miami as possible trade destinations over the last several weeks.
Currently averaging 19.5pts and 8.1ast per game, the 26 year old has been limited to just 20 games this season due to a variety of injuries. For his part, Morant insists he isn’t trying to force his way out of town, and claims to be happy in Memphis.
“I’ve got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be,” Morant said referring to a tattoo of the Grizzlies’ logo on his back. “If anybody in here knows me, I’m a very loyal guy.”
Nevertheless, chatter around the league seems to indicate there remains a very real possibility that the number 2 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft is moved ahead of deadline day. Morant has had both health and legal issues since joining the league, with some speculating that a change of scenery might be the best thing for his career moving forward.
With an 18-25 record, Memphis sits in 12th place in the Western Conference, with only the lowly Jazz, Kings and Pelicans behind them. As such, the Grizzlies front office are likely to be sellers leading up to deadline day, but how extensive that tear down becomes likely hinges on what kind of trade market materializes for Morant.
The club has no pressing need to move on from their star player. However, Morant’s advanced stats show a decline in his on court performance this season. If he were to bounce back next year, then perhaps there’s increased demand for his services. But if his underlying numbers continue in their current direction, the club may not be able to recoup the same kind of assets in 2026-27 as they’ve been offered to date.
As a result, there’s a very real possibility that because of this injury, the 2x All-Star may have played his final game in a Grizzlies uniform.
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