Ja Morant trade rumors, Ja Morant injury update, Memphis Grizzlies injury report, news, NBA Berlin Game, Orlando Magic, Tuomas Iisalo, Jaren Jackson Jr.
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Memphis Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo had a blunt response to the report by Shams Charania on Ja Morant trade rumors amid his injury.
After Trae Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies appears to be the next young point guard on the chopping block ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
NBA insider Shams Charania recently reported that Morant and the Grizzlies are beginning tolook at avenues to end their relationshiptogether, which, depending on the source, makes him one of the top players available to be traded before February 5th.
However, Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo isn’thaving any of Charania’s reporting.Speaking at a press conference before the team’s matchup against the Orlando Magic in the first-ever NBABerlin game, he denied the claims of trade rumors and instead discussed Morant’sinjury return.
Memphis is considering multiple paths forward amid the emergence of several promising young players, including building around them and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. The Grizzlies also remain open to continue on with Morant as a focal part of their retool. https://t.co/gcWzT9VpOC
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2026
“We are not in the business of commenting on random internet reports,” Iisalo said to reporters. “He’s progressing in the practices. He’s already able to do a lot of the parts of practice, so looking good to progress (toward playing).”
While Morant has missed major time with a calf injury this season, the new trade rumors surrounding the 26-year-old have taken center stage. He is currently listed as questionable for the Grizzlies-Magic game in Berlin on Thursday.
Ja Morant Trade Rumors
Iisalo kept it short and sweet when addressing the trade rumors surrounding his team’s point guard, but, likewith the consistent credibility of Charania’s reporting,there’s been a rift between Morant and the Grizzlies for a long time now.
Back in the first two weeks of the season, Morant said after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, for reporters to ‘go ask the coaching staff‘ on what went wrong. He appeared visibly frustrated with his lack of usage in the game, in which he finished with eight points and seven assists on 3/14 shooting, and didn’t give much other insight to reporters.
That prompted NBA reporter Evan Sidery to predict a breakup between Morant and Memphis, which came more than two months before Charania confirmed that news.
Evan Sidery
The Ja Morant situation has been festering behind the scenes.
A franchise frustrated by their star’s lack of growth, and feuds with two different coaching staffs.
Don’t be surprised if we’re witnessing the last few months of Morant in a Grizzlies uniform.
“The Ja Morant situation has been festering behind the scenes. A franchise frustrated by their star’s lack of growth, and feuds with two different coaching staffs,” Sidery wrote in a post on X. “Don’t be surprised if we’re witnessing the last few months of Morant in a Grizzlies uniform.”
Along with the growing tensions, Morant’s off-court behavior has been a major cause for concern over the past few years. Numerous incidents involving flashing a gun, as well as a few other legal and civil issues, have reportedly caused growing frustration within the organization, and he now looks to be on his way out.
Yet still, while teams around the league like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat have all been linked to the two-time All-Star, it is hard to get a grasp on his trade value, considering all the ups and downs of his time in Memphis.
Ja Morant Injury Update Ahead Of The NBA Berlin Game
As mentioned, Morant has been out for the last five games with a right calf bruise, but according to Iisalo, has ‘a chance’ to return in their game against Orlando in Germany.
He’s only played in 18 contests so far this season due toa number of health concerns, but in those games, he has put up averages of 19 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists on 40.9% shooting. All of those numbers but the assists are down from last season, and along with the trade rumors surrounding his name, the constant injuries this year have appeared to take a toll on his performance.
Yet still, if he does return to action against the Magic, that would be good news for a Grizzlies team that has lost six of its last eight games. Even with Morant out, Jaren Jackson Jr. hasn’t looked like the player Memphis hoped he would be when they signed him to a max contract extension, and along with the rumors on their point guard, his future with the team isn’t set in stone either.
Along with Morant, the Grizzlies also have big man Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Ty Jerome on their injury report, all of whom are listed as questionable for the Berlin game with a number of different injuries.