Grizzlies Hit Reset Button, But Say They're Not Starting From Scratch
It’s been a whirlwind week in Memphis, and after the dust settled from the NBA trade deadline, general manager Zach Kleiman stepped up to the mic Friday morning to give fans some clarity-or at least a glimpse-into where the Grizzlies are headed.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a minor reshuffle. This was a directional pivot. And the message from the front office is loud and clear-Memphis is retooling, not tanking, and they’re doing it with a long-term vision in mind.
Ja Morant Stays-for Now
For the first time since he was drafted, Ja Morant’s name was seriously floated in trade talks. That alone is a seismic shift for a franchise that, just a year ago, publicly declared him untouchable. But this time around, things were different.
According to Kleiman, the Grizzlies evaluated all available options at the deadline, and while Morant was on the table, no deal materialized. That wasn’t for lack of trying, but rather a reflection of where Morant’s value currently stands. He’s played just 79 games since the start of the 2023-24 season, with injuries-including his current left elbow sprain-limiting his availability and, by extension, his trade stock.
“Trades take two teams,” Kleiman said, choosing his words carefully. “We made the trades we felt were in the best interest of the organization going forward.”
That phrase-“organizational direction”-was repeated often. And while Kleiman emphasized the team’s long-standing support of Morant, the shift in tone was unmistakable.
The franchise is no longer building around Ja. They’re building forward, and whether Morant is part of that future remains uncertain beyond this season.
As for whether we’ll see Morant on the floor again this year, Kleiman kept it short: “It’ll be a medical determination and a medical determination only.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. Trade Signals a True Pivot
If the Morant situation was noisy, the trade of Jaren Jackson Jr. came like a thunderclap out of nowhere.
The Grizzlies sent the former Defensive Player of the Year, along with Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar, and Jock Landale, to the Utah Jazz. In return, they received a package centered around three future first-round picks, rookie guard Walter Clayton Jr., former lottery pick Taylor Hendricks, and a familiar face in Kyle Anderson.
This move wasn’t reactionary-it was strategic. Memphis had reached a fork in the road, and Kleiman made it clear they chose the path with the potential for “higher-end outcomes,” even if that meant parting ways with a cornerstone player.
“We had conviction that the pathway to building a team that can achieve higher-end outcomes involved making a move to that effect,” Kleiman said.
The front office isn’t sugarcoating it anymore. The Grizzlies are pivoting toward a younger core, and they’re not pretending otherwise.
What Comes Next: Youth, Picks, and a Quick Turnaround
Though Kleiman stopped short of calling it a rebuild, the writing’s on the wall. Memphis is shifting gears.
But this isn’t a teardown. It’s more like a retool with ambition.
The Grizzlies now hold 13 first-round picks over the next seven years-tied for the most in the league. That’s a war chest of assets that gives Memphis flexibility to build through the draft or swing big in future trades.
And there are already intriguing pieces in the building. Cedric Coward and Zach Edey headline the youth movement, and the front office believes there’s enough talent on hand to avoid a prolonged slump.
“We’re not starting from scratch,” Kleiman said. “We already have a lot to work with.”
The message? Don’t expect Memphis to sit at the bottom of the standings for long.
They’re not interested in a five-year rebuild or intentionally bottoming out. The front office is aiming for a quicker turnaround-with a foundation that can actually sustain long-term success.
Final Thoughts
This deadline marked a turning point for the Grizzlies. The team that once looked like a rising Western Conference power built around Morant and Jackson Jr. has hit pause, reassessed, and chosen a new path. It’s not without risk, and it’ll take time to see how the pieces come together.
But one thing is clear: Memphis isn’t clinging to the past. They’re betting on a bold future-and they’ve got the assets to make it happen.