The Ja Morant situation in Memphis has taken another sharp turn - and not in the direction the Grizzlies were hoping for. The star guard is dealing with a sprained UCL in his left elbow, and the team says he’ll be re-evaluated in three weeks. That timeline effectively rules him out through the Feb. 5 trade deadline, putting the brakes on any potential movement at a time when clarity is in short supply.
This isn’t just about one injury. It’s the latest in a string of setbacks that have made Morant’s long-term future in Memphis murkier by the day.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, he’s played in only 79 games - a mix of suspensions and injuries keeping him from building any consistent rhythm. And while he's still putting up 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game, those numbers come with a caveat: his shooting efficiency has dipped to career lows from both the field and beyond the arc.
The frustrating part for Memphis? Morant was just starting to look like himself again.
He returned with a bang in London against Orlando, then followed it up with a strong performance versus Atlanta. The elbow injury came right as he was regaining his footing - and just as the Grizzlies were hoping to turn a corner.
Instead, they’re left in limbo. Again.
Around the league, the uncertainty is starting to shape how other teams view Morant - not just as a player, but as a trade asset. Interest that once seemed inevitable is now more cautious.
Teams like Toronto and Miami, who might’ve been expected to kick the tires, have reportedly cooled on the idea. And with bigger names like Giannis Antetokounmpo still looming over the trade market, front offices are choosing patience over risk.
But not everyone is waiting. One team that’s reportedly been anything but passive? The New Orleans Pelicans.
According to insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the Pelicans have been “very aggressive” in their pursuit of Morant, viewing him as a potential game-changer alongside Zion Williamson - a bold pairing of two elite talents with All-NBA ceilings and, admittedly, injury histories that make any front office think twice.
The reported deal on the table? Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray heading to Memphis, with the Grizzlies also sending Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to New Orleans alongside Morant. That’s a blockbuster-level shuffle, the kind of move that would instantly reshape both backcourts and send a jolt through the Western Conference.
But Memphis wasn’t ready to pull the trigger - not without first-round draft capital included. And that’s where talks reportedly hit a wall. For New Orleans, the price was too steep, especially considering the gamble involved with Morant’s health and availability.
It’s easy to understand both sides. For the Pelicans, Morant represents a high-upside swing, but one that comes with real risk. For Memphis, trading away a franchise cornerstone - even one with question marks - requires a return that justifies the potential regret.
So, for now, everything stays on hold. Morant rehabs.
The Grizzlies wait. The deadline creeps closer.
And the league watches, wondering not just if a move will happen, but when and how this next chapter in Morant’s career will begin.
One thing’s clear: the conversation around Ja Morant isn’t going away anytime soon.