A long-awaited injury update just arrived for Grizzlies fans. The main surprise news is that Zach Edey underwent a procedure to address lingering discomfort in his left elbow. Brandon Clarke's season is now over after he strained his right calf back in December. However, the biggest question for Grizzlies fans the last few weeks just got answered.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical updates for Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey: pic.twitter.com/gV8rLPlwbs
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 25, 2026
Many fans were holding out hope that Ja Morant would be able to make a late-season return despite the Grizzlies' ongoing tank. Unfortunately, it was recommended for Ja Morant to receive a PRP injection to address the UCL sprain in his left elbow. His season is done, and it is becoming a growing possibility that his time in Memphis is also over.
Following today's update, Ja Morant will now have just played 79 regular season games in the last three seasons. That is an incredibly low number for the beloved star in Memphis, and his lack of availability has been a contributing factor towards the Grizzlies not finding playoff success. With the Grizzlies having previously shopped Morant at this deadline, the same will certainly happen this summer.
This would be an unfortunate ending to Morant's time in Memphis
Regardless of if Grizzlies fans want Morant to be traded or not, this would be a cruel ending to his time in Memphis. Morant is one of the most talented players to ever wear a Grizzlies jersey and is beloved in Memphis. He also has one of the largest global followings of any player in the entire NBA. Unfortunately, it is understandable why the team is willing to listen to offers.
Ja Morant and many other Grizzlies players have been snakebitten by injuries in the last few seasons. However, a key reason that the Grizzlies have won just one playoff series since drafting Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant has been the fact that Morant has struggled to stay healthy.
To make matters more difficult, Morant has still shown flashes of his elite-level talent. Unfortunately, his offensive consistency has dipped significantly. He was averaging 19.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in the 20 games he played this season. However, his shooting efficiency was a problem, as he shot just 41% from the field and 23.5% from three, both career lows.
Morant's trade value is by far the lowest it's been
Given that the Grizzlies collapsed last season and Zach Kleiman originally had the plan to retool around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., this was a crucial season for Morant. Given the offensive inconsistency and only appearing in 20 games, this was an incredibly disappointing season for him.
Trade interest for Morant was limited at this year's trade deadline, and the Grizzlies would've potentially had to attach a pick to move him. At this point, the Grizzlies likely will not get an appealing trade package for Ja Morant. Teams such as the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks could be worth monitoring this summer as potential trade partners for Morant.
Regardless, Ja Morant is one of the most talented players to wear a Grizzlies jersey and has given the fanbase many memorable highlights and clutch plays. Whether it is in Memphis or elsewhere, the hope is still for Ja Morant to recover his best version as a player again.
However, it is looking like his time in Memphis is over and that fully committing to the rebuild is the best path forward for the Grizzlies. With a stacked 2026 NBA Draft coming up this summer, the Grizzlies could end up potentially finding their successor to Ja Morant.