Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant sustained a UCL sprain in his left elbow during a recent loss to the Atlanta Hawks and will undergo a follow-up evaluation in three weeks. His minimum three-week absence means he will miss games through the NBA trade deadline on February 5th at 3 p.m. ET. While this injury is not expected to cause long-term damage—Grizzlies officials say Morant is likely to fully recover—it raises questions about his availability for potential trades.
Morant’s injury is particularly unfortunate because he had recently displayed the explosive form that made him a standout early in his career, delivering strong performances in his comeback game in London against Orlando and a double-double against Atlanta before being hurt.
Injuries have been a persistent challenge for Morant, limiting his playing time and consistency. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, he has participated in just 79 games due to a mix of suspensions and injuries. This season alone, he’s appeared in 20 games, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists with career-low shooting percentages of 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range. Morant remains under contract for two more years with $87 million left to be paid.
Prior to this setback, the trade market for Morant was already lukewarm, with reported interest from teams like the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat seen as somewhat overstated. With the deadline fast approaching and uncertainty surrounding major trade candidates—most notably Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is sidelined with a calf strain and whose team’s openness to trading him remains unclear—the market remains unsettled.
Morant’s injury could result in him staying in Memphis until the offseason, potentially fueling a significant move in the summer instead of at the trade deadline. As the deadline nears, teams looking for immediate improvements or considering selling off assets will likely increase pressure to make deals, but true interest in Morant and other stars may only become evident in the final hours.
Fan Take:
This development is crucial for basketball fans because Morant is one of the game’s most electrifying talents, and his health heavily influences not just Memphis’s fortunes but the entire trade landscape. His injury highlights the fragility of superstar careers and underscores the high stakes teams face as they strategize for both short-term success and long-term rebuilding.
