The notion that the Memphis Grizzlies will inevitably trade away Ja Morant has gained more traction following the revelation of the star point guard’s injury status. Morant entered the league after being selected with the second pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
His talent and otherworldly athleticism made Morant a fan favorite, resulting in the Grizzlies’ immediate return to relevance. While Morant has not expressed any desire to leave the Grizzlies, his off-court issues and increasing frequency of injuries have continued to fuel trade rumors.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ Issues With Ja Morant Continue To Grow Amid Frequent Injuries
While the Grizzlies may have genuinely believed that keeping Morant would be a top priority, his problems over the past few seasons have significantly reduced his value and role with the team.
Morant’s gang behavior and alleged gun issues to the side, the fact that the Grizzlies have supported or even encouraged disciplining Morant is a bad sign. All of Morant’s issues and controversial behavior reportedly impacted the number of nationally broadcast games featuring the Grizzlies.
Perhaps the Grizzlies organization would have found a way to reach a middle ground with Morant if he were playing at a high level. Unfortunately, Morant has only played in 14 games so far this season, averaging 17.7 points per game. Given that Morant averaged more points during his rookie season, it is clear that things are not going well within the organization.
The initial part of the regular season often presents fans with the opportunity to relive matchups from the most recent postseason. As a result, many hoped that Morant would suit up and do his best to hold off the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although the Grizzlies could potentially win, they will be viewed as heavy underdogs since Morant will be sidelined. Reports reveal that the Grizzlies’ star is dealing with a left ankle injury, something that will ensure he misses their upcoming game against the defending NBA champions.
NBA correspondent Mark Stein posted the Grizzlies’ status report on X. He captioned, “The Grizzlies say Ja Morant (left ankle sprain) will miss Monday’s game at Oklahoma City.”
The Grizzlies say Ja Morant (left ankle sprain) will miss Monday’s game at Oklahoma City. https://t.co/9q9j27NxuU
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 21, 2025
While Morant is undoubtedly not the type to fake an injury to avoid anyone, his lack of availability against the best team in the league will only damage the relationship between Morant and the Grizzlies, especially if upper management believes he will only drag them down.
In that case, trading him away would be in the Grizzlies’ best interest. After all, a healthy and motivated Morant can put up elite numbers against the top players in the league, something that will still make him desirable to teams across the league.
If the Grizzlies want to move on from Morant, their primary focus should be on his return to the court. Impressive performances from the Grizzlies’ star following his ankle injury would send a message to the league that Morant is a high-demand player.
Fans are left debating over the likelihood of Morant and the Grizzlies being able to address their issues as opposed to them parting ways
