Grizzlies remain open to trading injured Ja Morant

Ja Morant remains available. And Memphis is not pretending otherwise.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Grizzlies are still open to trade offers for Morant, even as he prepares to miss at least three weeks with an elbow sprain.

The injury does not change the stance. If anything, it complicates the conversation.

Teams hoping to buy low may be disappointed. Stein reports internal pressure in Memphis to land a return that exceeds what Atlanta received in the Trae Young deal.

In other words, the Grizzlies are not interested in a salary-dump package or a bundle of “nice contracts.” They want real value. Real upside. Real leverage.

There is also a human element brewing beneath the surface.

If Morant remains on the roster past the deadline, Stein suggests potential friction could linger between the former franchise star and GM Zach Kleiman.

Morant’s name has been floated publicly. His extension situation remains unresolved. And earlier this season, Kleiman sided with head coach Tuomas Iisola during a reported clash between coach and player.

That history matters.

Morant has appeared in just 20 games this season and is averaging a career-low 28.5 minutes per night. Still, he has matched his career high in assists at 8.1 per game, showing he can impact winning even with limited availability.

The question is not talent. It is timing. Trust. And direction.