As of Tuesday, January 13, the Grizzlies are 17-22. The team is 4-6 in their last 10 games and are coming off a 103-98 win vs. Brooklyn on Sunday.
Memphis has been without all-star PG Ja Morant for the last five games due to a calf injury. That might not be the only reason Morant is missing time. Last week, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for Ja Morant. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said Ja Morant’s “career cannot continue in Memphis.”
The writing is on the wall for Ja Morant’s future with the Grizzlies
“Everybody in that arena, much less locker room, knows they want to get rid of him. And the feeling is mutual. It’s reached a point where Ja Morant’s career cannot continue in Memphis.”
– @BannedMacMahon on Ja Morant
(h/t @RTNBA ) pic.twitter.com/OCK5FXc0IQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 12, 2026
With the second pick of the 2019 NBA draft, the Grizzlies selected Ja Morant out of Murray State. The first four seasons of his career had Memphis’ future looking bright. However, the last three seasons have been filled with on and off-court issues. Ja Morant has been suspended by the NBA and the Grizzlies multiple times since the 2023-24 season. Additionally, the 26-year-old has had a few injuries along the way. In 2025-26, Morant has appeared in 18 of the team’s 39 games.
Early in the season, Ja Morant had a dispute with first-year head coach Tuomas Iisalo. He was then suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Since then, it’s been downhill for Morant in 2025-26. Last week, NBA insider Shams Charania reported the Grizzlies will listen to trade offers for Morant ahead of the deadline. Charanai’s ESPN colleague, Tim MacMahon, shared more details about the PG’s future with Memphis.
Ja Morant’s overall trade value will look very similar to what the Hawks just received for Trae Young.
Due to Morant’s contract, rival executives believe the Grizzlies will be unable to net a 1st-round pick.
If Memphis trades Morant, it could just come down to matching salary. pic.twitter.com/NkyzHKp0fE
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 13, 2026
MacMahon said we’re at a point where Morant’s “career cannot continue in Memphis.” The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, February 5. Memphis has just over four weeks to scour the trade market and find a suitor. However, MacMahon noted that Ja Morant’s trade value was nothing to brag about. He added that Morant’s value was viewed as similar to or even less to former Hawks PG Trae Young.
Atlanta parted ways with Young and sent him to the Wizards. It’s reached a near-boiling point in Memphis. The team is burdened by Ja Morant being part of the franchise. Early in his career, the team saw success. That’s quickly changed since the 2023-24 season. Memphis might have to trade Ja Morant for next to nothing, similar to what the Hawks did for Trae Young. They received CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in return. Will the Grizzlies find a trade partner and end their seven-year partnership with Ja Morant?
