Marc Stein’s ‘Sense’ on Ja Morant’s trade talks after elbow injury
Everything went downhill for I Morant on the Memphis Grizzlies since 2023 and is now at the center of trade negotiations quite like Grizzlies scour the market for the potential return of someone they considered a cornerstone of their franchise after drafting him second overall in 2019.
Morant is currently out with an elbow injury, with him recovering for at least three weeks, further complicating trade matters for both him and the Grizzlies. In light of these recent developments, Memphis is still looking at that sell him, but not for pennies on the dollar, similar to how the Atlanta Hawks received peanuts for Trea Young.
“I feel the Grizzlies are still more than open to trade inquiries for Morant … but still under pressure to get more in return for Memphis’ runaway most popular player than the two friendly deals (CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert) Atlanta settled for in the Young trade,” wrote NBA insider Marc Stein.
Morant is younger than Young, though he comes with some off-court baggage that will surely reduce his trade value as well. Injury problems and poor performance while on the pitch didn’t help either.
It would take a lot for the Grizzlies in order to get what they think they deserve in return for Morant, first and foremost, he has to show that he’s healthy and still capable of rising to his former superstar levels.
Where are the Grizzlies from here with Ja Morant?
Stein noted that the Grizzlies have alienated Morant, from openly shopping him on the market to favoring head coach Tuomas Iisal over him, meaning the relationship between the two sides could be irreconcilable at this point.
One thing is certain: Morant’s days with the Grizzlies are numbered. Memphis seems likely to find him a new home, if not now, then in the offseason.
2026-01-26 03:20:00
