Trade talk is heating up in the NBA, with the trade deadline set to loom over the league calendar before long. One player looks likely to ride out the tempest of speculation swirling around him -- albeit because of injury.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant suffered an elbow injury during Memphis’ home loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. Although he was able to stay on the floor, the issue is expected to keep him in street clothes for the coming weeks — a development that will likely prevent him from being dealt ahead of next week’s deadline.
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How long is Ja Morant out?
Morant will miss at least three weeks as a result of his latest ailment. He will be unavailable through the Feb. 5 trade deadline amid rampant speculation that he could be dealt to another organization.
Morant suffered the injury while swatting away an errant layup attempt on the fast break in Memphis’ loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. He stayed in the contest, finishing with 23 points and 12 assists, but appeared worse for the wear, clearly favoring his left arm.
Morant has missed 23 games this season after being felled by a myriad of injuries and a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. He returned to the floor for the Grizzlies’ Jan. 18 clash with the Magic, his first game back after missing six contests with a calf contusion.
What is a UCL sprain?
A UCL sprain refers to a when the ulnar collateral ligament is stretched or torn. The injury affects the inner elbow and mainly stems from overuse. The injury is most common among baseball pitchers, whose elbows bend and flare in erratic ways while delivering darts towards home plate. But it can affect any athlete who "repeatedly uses strenuous overhead arm movements", according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms include pain, stiffness and tenderness in the elbow. Some patients have reported feeling their inner elbow pop after suffering the injury. Those felled by UCL injuries often experience limited range of movement and decrease in strength, as well as difficulty straightening the arm at the elbow joint, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Numbness and tingling can also occur.
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UCL sprain recovery timeline
UCL sprains, like any sprain impacting a ligament, come in different flavors. The recovery timetable for a UCL sprain depends on its severity. Patients who suffer a Grade I injury -- a malady that sees the ligament be overstretched but not torn -- tend to return to action earlier than those who are felled by Grade II or Grade III UCL injuries. Grade II UCL injuries occur when the ligament is stretched and partially torn, while Grade III UCL injuries refer to incidents when the ligament is completely torn.
Based on Memphis' announcement, it seems likely he experienced a Grade I UCL injury. He likely won't need to go under the knife to treat the issue. According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, treatment for minor UCL sprains and tears typically include:
- Rest from all throwing activities for 6 to 12 weeks depending on the severity of the injury, response to treatment and decrease in pain
- Ice to reduce swelling and discomfort
- Anti-inflammatory medications, as needed
Morant should be able to return to form before long, although it might take him a few months to get back firing at his pre-injury levels.
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Ja Morant injury history
Morant has faced his fair share of injuries over the years, missing time with hip issues, ankle sprains, knee trouble, and a right shoulder labral tear. He also was briefly sidelined by a soft-tissue hand injury during the 2023 playoffs.
All told, Morant has missed more than 100 games in his career due to injury. Over the past three seasons, he has played in only 79 of a possible 207 games, missing time because of injuries as well as a suspension.
Will Ja Morant get traded?
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Grizzlies are actively shopping Morant, who is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career in 2025-26. It's unclear where the 26-year-old's value stands at present. But his injury is likely to put teams off, with ESPN's Tim MacMahon reporting that there has been "tepid interest" in Morant's services, "in part due to Morant's issues with availability."
With Morant on the mend past the trade deadline, it seems unlikely that a deal will materialize to send the polarizing point guard elsewhere. He has expressed interest in staying with Memphis long term, telling reporters after the Grizzlies’ Jan. 18 clash with Orlando that he is loyal to the organization that drafted him.
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"I've got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be," Morant said. "If anybody in here knows me, I'm a very loyal guy."
Nevertheless, it's unclear is Memphis feels the same way. The Grizzlies declined to engage in contract extension talks with Morant during the offseason. The two-time All-Star has two years and $87 million left on his current deal.