Ja Morant's Injury, Timeline for Return to Grizzlies Updated by GM amid NBA Trade Rumors
Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman suggested Friday that guard Ja Morant could play again this season if he is medically cleared to do so.
Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian asked Kleiman about whether the Grizzlies' place in the standings could impact Morant's status for the remainder of the season, and Kleiman replied by saying, "It will be a medical determination and a medical determination only."
When Hill followed up, Kleiman responded, "I said what I said. I will continue to say it. He is attacking his rehab, and I will get out there and get a better download on where things stand at the moment. It is a medical determination."
Morant has missed the Grizzlies' past seven games due to an elbow injury. On Jan. 24, the Grizzlies announced that Morant would miss at least three weeks with an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his left elbow.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania (h/t ESPN's Tim MacMahon), the Grizzlies entertained trade offers for Morant, but interest was "tepid" and Memphis decided to keep him past the trade deadline.
The Grizzlies did move on from arguably their best player, though, as they shipped center Jaren Jackson Jr. along with Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round picks.
With Jackson gone and Morant on the shelf, the Grizzlies could be in line to drop even further in the standings, thus improving their chances to landing a top pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Multiple injuries have limited Morant to just 20 games this season, and that has contributed to Memphis being 11th in the Western Conference with a 20-29 record.
Over his first four seasons, Morant looked to be a budding superstar. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020 and received All-Star nods in both 2022 and 2023. He also averaged 23 or more points per game in four consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2025.
This season, Morant is averaging 19.5 points per game, which are his fewest since the 2020-21 campaign, to go along with 8.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.0 three-pointer made.
The 26-year-old guard is also shooting a career-worst 41.0 percent from the field 23.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Despite his struggles, Morant is undoubtedly the Grizzlies' most talented player, and they likely have a better chance of playing winning basketball when he is in the lineup.
The Jackson trade this week and the decision to trade guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic this past offseason are signs that the Grizzlies are trying to rebuild or at least retool, though.
That means a better draft pick would benefit the Grizzlies' long-term future, especially if they land Kansas' Darryn Peterson or BYU's AJ Dybantsa, who are both widely viewed as potential franchise players.
Kleiman's comments suggest Morant will play if he is physically able to do so, but playing winning basketball down the stretch does little to benefit the Grizzlies since their chances of making the playoffs this season are minuscule.
