According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves will continue to monitor the Ja Morant situation with the Memphis Grizzlies.
“Teams such as the Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves (and likely many more) that were known to be monitoring the situation before will continue to do so, all while watching closely when Ja Morant returns (his initial timeline had him slated for a possible early December return),” Amick wrote.
Morant is currently out with a right calf strain. It’s unknown when the All-Star point guard will return to the lineup.
The Grizzlies are 9-12 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. Morant has been vocal while sitting on the bench, leading some to believe things are turning around in Memphis.
“It’s a huge advantage for us,” Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo said about Morant talking on the bench. “It’s during the games. He’s … asking stuff of me and giving some tips there for the guys. Overall, really good communication, really good leadership, both from him and also from Jaren (Jackson Jr.) and our veteran guys.”
Morant has appeared in 12 games this season. He’s averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game while shooting 35.9% from the field, 16.7% from beyond the arc and 94.2% from the free-throw line.
Morant will make $39.4 million this season, $42.2 million in the 2026-27 season and $44.9 million in the 2027-28 season, which is the final year of his contract.
The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, Morant has only led the Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs once.
Morant, 26, has career averages of 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the NBA. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 draft.