When will Ja Morant return to playing? Latest update by Adrian Wojnarowski reveals extended time off from Grizzlies
Ja Morant isn't out of trouble yet. After Colorado police confirmed that no charges will be filed against him after allegedly brandishing a gun inside a club, another report came out. This one was from none other than Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Woj, Morant will be away from the Memphis Grizzlies for at least the next four games.
Ja Morant will remain away from Grizzlies for at least the next four games, team says.
It is important to note that although the Glendale Police Department in Colorado declined to charge Morant, the NBA could still find him in violation of the CBA. According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if Morant brought the firearm seen in the video on the team plane, he could be suspended for 50 games.
Below you can view footage of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal giving his thoughts on Morant and his recent actions off the court.
What games will Ja Morant miss?
With Morant sitting out the next four games, he will miss several key matchups. With the team now falling out of second place in the midst of a three-game skid, his absence will be a major sore spot in the games to come.
On Thursday, the Grizzlies (38-26) will play the Golden State Warriors (34-32), who have lost two consecutive games.
On Saturday, the Grizzlies will square off against the Dallas Mavericks (34-32) in another pivotal interconference matchup. The Mavericks are in fifth place in the West.
Next week, the Grizzlies will hit the road to once again to square off with the Mavericks on Monday. On Wednesday, the team will head to Miami to square off with the Heat (35-31), who have been on a mission to improve their Eastern Conference standing.
On March 17, the team will head to San Antonio (16-49) to play the Spurs. That is the earliest expected game for Morant's return if he misses just four games.
On Sunday, coach Taylor Jenkins said that Morant would likely miss more than two games:
"We're taking this very seriously. There's a supportive element for someone that's got to get better and needs some help. But then there's also accountability to the team that we've got to stand for.
"Obviously, nationwide, league-wide, there's been a lot of attention on gun violence, and so for us, that's the stance that we've taken about how we can support Ja throughout this growth opportunity. It's a learning opportunity, and hopefully we can be better from it."
With the Western Conference extremely competitive, the remainder of the Grizzlies' season hangs in the balance. As the team looks to snap a three-game skid, the Phoenix Suns (36-29) are nipping at their heels.
The Suns sit two-and-a-half games behind the Grizzlies for third place in the West. Despite the lead, the Grizzlies have in the standings, the Suns have been on a tear since acquiring Kevin Durant, winning three straight.
Only time will tell whether Morant is able to keep his head on the straight and narrow going forward.
Watch for updates here as they become available.