Two days after reports surfaced that the Memphis Grizzlies are fielding trade offers for Ja Morant, the team prepares to host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday without their star guard, sidelined by a calf injury. Memphis has dropped six of its last seven games amid the swirling rumors.
The Memphis Grizzlies will face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday without Ja Morant, who remains out with a right calf injury that has already caused him to miss 20 of the team's 38 games this season. The matchup comes after Friday's 117-116 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and amid reports—first detailed earlier this week—that the Grizzlies are entertaining trade offers for the two-time All-Star ahead of the February 5 deadline.
Coach Tuomas Iisalo declined to address the trade speculation before or after the Thunder game but confirmed no setback in Morant's recovery. Jaren Jackson Jr., a longtime teammate, reflected on the uncertainty: "The business of basketball, it takes a toll. And I told him, too... It's just a tough thing, man. But he showed up to the game, he's still around."
The Nets (11-24), the league's youngest team, lost 121-105 to the Clippers on Friday, their fifth defeat in six. Coach Jordi Fernandez expressed optimism: "There's room to improve. And I know our guys care and they are going to come back and get better."
Online fan speculation has intensified, with some predicting Morant has played his last game in Memphis. While the Grizzlies explore options, no deal is imminent.
