Ja Morant Sprains Left Ankle, Out Of Preseason

Ja Morant sprained his left ankle in practice on Oct. 5 and has been listed week-to-week, ruling him out of the preseason opener and leaving his availability for the Oct. 22 regular-season opener vs. New Orleans uncertain. The injury adds to a string of availability issues for the 26-year-old, who has missed large portions of recent seasons because of injuries and suspensions. Memphis is already coping with key absences — Jaren Jackson Jr. (turf toe), Brandon Clarke (knee) and Zach Edey (ankle) — and the offseason trade of Desmond Bane increases Morant’s offensive burden. Missing preseason reps will slow Morant’s integration into new coach Tuomas Iisalo’s system and raises questions about his role as a long-term franchise cornerstone. If Morant misses time to start the year, the Grizzlies are expected to lean on Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome to help fill the playmaking and scoring void.