With Trae Young already traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards , Ja Morant is now the biggest name being floated around in the rumor mill as the NBA's February 5, 2026, trade deadline continues to draw near.
During the postgame press conference after the Memphis Grizzlies' win over the Orlando Magic at the O2 Arena in London, Morant addressed questions about his future in Memphis , reminding reporters that the Grizzlies' logo is imprinted on his back.
"Everybody in here who knows me knows I'm a very loyal guy. I got a logo on my back, and that should tell you where I want to be," said Morant.
Morant has been in Memphis since the Grizzlies drafted him 2nd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. But after a turbulent last couple of seasons, ESPN's Shams Charania reported last week that with the trade deadline fast approaching, the Grizzlies are entertaining offers for a potential trade involving the two-time All-Star.
Late last year, after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers , Ja and head coach Tomas Iisalo reportedly had a confrontation, with Morant reportedly frustrated by Iisalo's coaching style. That led to a one-game suspension, which the 2020 Rookie of the Year allegedly still holds against his team and head coach. Both, however, have downplayed an ongoing conflict, and Iisalo recently said the rumors aren't affecting the team.
"I think we are focused on the things that we can control," Iisalo told Marc Stein for talkSPORT . "That's one of the things with the NBA - there's always going to be a lot of outside noise. But it doesn't really affect our work on a daily basis. We've just kept ploughing forward and keep doing the work, have great focus and great effort when we're here at practice."
Injuries have limited Ja to only 18 games played this season, adding to his frustration. But on Sunday, Morant returned to action after missing the team's last six games with a right calf issue, and he gave his struggling team the much-needed spark that they so desperately needed.
Memphis was just 2-6 in their last 8 games heading to their second straight out-of-the-country game versus the Southeast Division leaders, the Magic. With Ja scoring 20 points and dishing 10 assists in the first half, the Grizzlies roared to a 72-53 lead and never looked back. He finished with 24 points, 13 assists and five rebounds in just 28 minutes of action.
"Just the love. I'm able to see not only that I got love back home but I got it here too. Fans constantly calling my name and cheering when I score. Thats big time," said Morant after the game.
It was great to see Ja back on the court on Sunday. But more importantly, it was fantastic to see him having fun while putting on a show. Expectations have been set so high for Ja since he reached the All-NBA level in 2022 that, after he had that pair of gun incidents, it was hard to enjoy the game again. He looked like he was genuinely happy showing out for the fans at the O2. Hopefully, he stays because the Grizzlies still look good with him.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
