NBA Rumors: Ja Morant Injured and Will Not Play Until After the Trade Deadline

Ja Morant finds himself back in the center of NBA rumors just weeks before the trade deadline. The star point guard of the Memphis Grizzlies will be out for at least three weeks after suffering a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament of his left elbow, an absence that will extend at least until after the trade deadline on February 5.

The franchise announced the injury on Saturday morning, confirming that Morant will not return to the court before the trade deadline. The incident occurred during the home loss against the Atlanta Hawks, in a high-impact defensive play where the point guard had a spectacular block on a fast break. Despite the injury, Morant finished that game with 23 points and 12 assists, although he was already seen protecting his left arm at that time.

The absence comes in a delicate context for Memphis. Earlier this month, Shams Charania reported on ESPN that the Grizzlies were entertaining offers for Morant, information that has reignited the debate about his immediate future. According to league sources, interest in the two-time All-Star has been moderate, partly due to his availability issues in recent seasons.

Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Morant has played a total of 79 games, hampered by suspensions and various injuries. In the current season, he has appeared in 20 games, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists, but with the lowest shooting percentages of his career: 41.0% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range.

Prior to this new injury, the point guard had just returned after missing six games due to a calf contusion. In his comeback, in the victory against the Orlando Magic played in London, he recorded 24 points and 13 assists and made his stance clear regarding the rumors.

“I have a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be,” Morant pointed out, referring to the Grizzlies' shield tattoo. “If anyone here knows me, they know I am a very loyal guy.”

Contractually, Morant has two more guaranteed years and $87 million starting from next season, after Memphis chose not to engage in extension talks last summer. With his injury keeping him off the court until after February 5, the outcome of the rumors will now depend on the moves the franchise decides to make behind the scenes in the coming weeks.

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