The Grizzlies fail to trade Ja Morant before the deadline
Feb 6, 2026
Nicolas Flamecourt
Ja Morant will miss at least two more weeks with the Grizzlies
Ja Morant remains in the Memphis Grizzlies infirmary. The All-Star point guard is still suffering from his left elbow injured on January 21 and will not return until early March, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will undergo surgery.
Jan 31, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Memphis Grizzlies said Wednesday that Ja Morant will be sidelined for at least two more weeks. The 26-year-old guard is still dealing with discomfort in his left elbow after sustaining a sprained ulnar collateral ligament on Jan. 21 against Atlanta.
Morant has made progress in his rehab, but the soreness hasn’t fully subsided, the team said. Memphis plans to re-evaluate him in two weeks, which effectively pushes any realistic return into early March at the earliest.
A compromised season for the Grizzlies star
This latest setback only deepens what has already been a choppy, stop-and-start season for Morant, who has appeared in just 20 games. When he’s been on the floor, the production has been there — 19.5 points, 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per night — but the sample remains frustratingly small.
Morant’s name did surface in trade chatter last month, but Memphis never seriously wavered on its franchise guard. The front office ultimately moved in a different direction, sending Jaren Jackson Jr., another two-time NBA All-Star, to Utah rather than even entertaining the idea of dealing Morant.
Ja Morant will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks; he’s recovering from a left elbow UCL sprain but still feels discomfort, the Grizzlies announced. pic.twitter.com/PCjtUaw8tH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 19, 2026
With 5.5 games back from the tenth place in the Western Conference and ten losses in the last twelve games, Memphis already seems eliminated from the play-in race. This situation could prompt the organization to preserve Morant for the rest of the season, making his return to the court in 2024-2025 uncertain.
Caldwell-Pope also injured
The infirmary problems don’t stop there for Memphis. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will undergo surgery Thursday to correct a misalignment of his right pinky finger. The timeline for his return will be announced after the surgical procedure.
The former Lakers and Nuggets guard, 33 years old, has played 51 games this season averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds. His absence adds to the difficulties of a roster already decimated by injuries and trades.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical updates for Ja Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: pic.twitter.com/6CYesPPjBG
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) February 19, 2026
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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