In Ja Morant's NBA career, this past month was the cloudiest that his Grizzlies' future had ever been. Despite plenty of rumors going back to January, Morant will end up finishing this season in Memphis. Now, given that Morant was held onto at this deadline, there are still more questions to ask about his future.
For context, Morant is still recovering from a left UCL sprain that was suffered in the Grizzlies' home loss to the Hawks on January 21st. Morant was coming off a great performance in London against the Magic and still played well against the Hawks despite getting injured late. However, given his inconsistencies the last two years and lack of availability, it made sense as to why his market wasn't strong.
Morant's value is a harsh reality for all parties in Memphis
Zach Kleiman was able to get strong returns for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, getting a combined seven first-round picks in both deals. The Grizzlies now have 13 first-round picks in the next seven years, perfect for beginning a rebuild. While hoping to get more future assets before today's deadline, the Grizzlies just simply didn't get any suitable offers for Morant.
Ja Morant remained with the Memphis Grizzlies past today's NBA trade deadline. Multiple teams were intrigued by Morant's talent but none were willing to make a serious offer, sources said.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026
The harsh truth is that Morant's value is the lowest it has ever been. While there is some optimism about Morant being able to regain some trade value before this summer, it is an unlikely outcome. Ja Morant's talent is never in doubt, but he will have to prove he can stay healthy and string together consistent performances once he returns from injury.
What will happen this summer?
Despite Morant not being traded today, there is still a strong chance that he is dealt in the offseason. While many in Memphis are hoping that the front office and Morant can rekindle their relationship, it will be challenging to fix following the organization's inability to successfully find a trade partner.
By not dealing Morant now, the Grizzlies are also running the risk of having to potentially attach draft capital in any future Morant trade. Given where Morant's value currently stands, another injury or bad run of games could further weaken his value in a summer trade.
While it cannot 100% be ruled out that the Grizzlies and Morant work things out, the Grizzlies are soon to be entering a rebuild following the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. The timelines for Morant and the Grizzlies to win likely won't align, making a summer trade the best solution for both parties. While plenty can still happen, the signs currently indicate that Morant will be dealt this summer.
Ja Morant's love for Memphis cannot be questioned, and he still remains well-loved by the fanbase. However, given the clash between Morant wanting to stay and the organization wanting to part ways, an already awkward situation could really intensify in the next few months.