With the Feb. 5 trade deadline on the horizon, Ja Morant’s name has started to swirl through the NBA rumor mill. It’s been a rocky season for the Grizzlies star - injuries have limited his availability, and even when he’s been on the floor, he hasn’t quite looked like the explosive force we’ve come to expect. That’s opened the door to speculation: is Morant’s time in Memphis running out?
Not so fast.
After helping lead the Grizzlies to a 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic in London - just his second game of 2026 - Morant made a statement, both on the court and off it. He dropped 24 points in a performance that reminded everyone just how dynamic he can be. And postgame, he shut the trade talk down with a simple message: he’s not going anywhere.
“Anybody who in here knows me knows I’m a very loyal guy,” Morant told reporters. “I have a logo on my back, so that should say exactly what I want to be.”
The logo in question? The Grizzlies’ own, tattooed proudly on Morant’s back.
It was a clear signal - he’s committed to Memphis. But as much as Morant is standing by the franchise, the question now becomes whether the franchise is ready to stand by him - and more importantly, build a roster around him that can actually compete.
At 18-23 and clinging to the 10th spot in the Western Conference, Memphis is far from where it hoped to be. There’s still time to turn things around, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. If the Grizzlies want to make a real push, they’ll need to make some serious adjustments - and soon.
Here are three urgent changes Memphis must make to salvage the season and show Morant that his loyalty is well-placed.
1. Repay Ja Morant’s Loyalty With Backcourt Stability
Let’s start with the obvious: the Grizzlies’ backcourt has been in flux all season. Trading Desmond Bane to Orlando in the offseason left a gaping hole next to Morant, and so far, Memphis hasn’t found a reliable answer.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was brought in to provide veteran stability, but the fit hasn’t been there. He’s averaging just 8.3 points per game - the lowest mark of his career - and hasn’t looked comfortable in his role.
Rookie Cedric Coward has seen time in the rotation, but he’s still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NBA. The growing pains are real, and they’re amplified every time Morant misses time.
That’s the crux of the issue: when Morant is off the floor, the offense stalls. There’s no secondary guard capable of keeping things afloat, no one to initiate the offense or create easy looks. It’s too much to ask Morant to carry that load alone, especially coming off injuries.
If the Grizzlies want to show their franchise player that his commitment matters, it starts with giving him a backcourt partner he can trust - someone who can space the floor, defend, and take pressure off him as a playmaker. Whether that comes via trade or internal development, it has to happen fast.
2. Lock In an Eight-Man Rotation After the All-Star Break
Injuries have been a constant storyline in Memphis this year. Not a single player has suited up for all 41 games, and the result has been a revolving door of lineups and roles. Halfway through the season, the Grizzlies are still in evaluation mode - but if they want to make a playoff push, that phase needs to end.
It’s time to define who this team is and who it trusts.
Santi Aldama and Jaylen Wells have been the steadiest presences, each logging 40 appearances and providing consistency in a turbulent year. Jaren Jackson Jr., with 38 games under his belt, remains a foundational piece. And of course, a healthy Morant is the engine that makes everything go.
That’s four guys you can pencil into the playoff rotation. The other four spots? Still up for grabs.
With players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome yet to make their season debuts, and Brandon Clarke missing significant time, Memphis needs clarity. Who are the role players that can be counted on in high-leverage moments?
Who fits around Morant and Jackson? Who brings the energy, defense, and shot-making needed to close games?
The All-Star break is the unofficial line in the sand. After that, rotations tighten and postseason positioning becomes real. If the Grizzlies are serious about making noise in the West, they need to figure out their eight-man crew - and start building chemistry now.
3. Make a Play for Michael Porter Jr.
Despite all the turbulence, there are some things Memphis is doing well. They rank fourth in the league in rebounds per game (46.3) and fifth in assists (29.0), which tells you this team moves the ball and crashes the glass. But here’s the problem: they can’t finish.
The Grizzlies are in the bottom 10 in scoring and own the fifth-worst field goal percentage in the league. That’s a brutal combo - creating chances but failing to capitalize. What they desperately need is a wing who can score efficiently and stretch the floor.
Enter Michael Porter Jr.
The Brooklyn forward is having a breakout stretch, averaging 25.8 points on 48.8% shooting from the field and a scorching 40.5% from deep. He’s the kind of offensive weapon Memphis has been missing - a true three-level scorer who can punish mismatches and open up space for Morant to operate.
A deal built around Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Clarke could make the money work, and it would give Brooklyn two proven veterans in return. For Memphis, it’s a gamble, sure - but one worth taking.
Adding Porter would allow Jaylen Wells to slide to the two, where his defense could shine, or thrive as a sixth man who brings scoring punch off the bench. Either way, the offense becomes far more dynamic, and the Grizzlies finally get the firepower they’ve been lacking.
Bottom Line: Ja Morant has made it clear - he’s in this for the long haul. Now it’s on the Grizzlies to meet him halfway.
That means stabilizing the backcourt, defining a playoff-ready rotation, and making a bold move to bring in a scorer who can elevate the offense. The clock’s ticking.
If Memphis wants to turn this season around, the time to act is now.