Ja Morant’s injury is back on the table for the Berlin game as the trade winds swirl
It was a tumultuous season so far for the Memphis Grizzlieswho is currently 17-22 heading into Thursday’s game against the Orlando Magic, which will be played in Berlin, Germany. Recently, ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania reported that the team is open to exploring trade options for the former All-Star play Ja Morantwhich certainly didn’t help the chemistry in the Memphis locker room.
Morant has been out of the lineup for the last few games due to injury, but recently head coach Tuomas Iisalo said there is a “chance” he could come back for their game against the Magic, per Joe Vardon of the Athletics. Morant has sat out the past five games with a bruised right calf, and many fans believe it’s no coincidence that it coincided with the rise of trade rumors.
Meanwhile, Morant has been a huge disappointment on the court this year, seeing his shots crater while remaining negative on the defensive end of the floor. While he has shown flashes of the former All-Star version of himself this year, most notably in a recent home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Morant’s play has largely been underwhelming, leading some to question how much the Grizzlies could actually get in a return package for him via trade.
Adding fuel to that concern was the fact that just last week, the Atlanta Hawks were able to acquire CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in a trade for Trea Young from the Washington Wizards, and many see Morant and Young as being on the same overall team as the league’s top point guard.
Either way, the Magic and Grizzlies are scheduled to tip off Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM ET from Berlin in the NBA International Series.
2026-01-13 16:09:00
