Grizzlies Face a New Era: Front Office Signals Shift Away from Ja Morant-Led Core
It wasn’t long ago that the Memphis Grizzlies were all-in on Ja Morant. Just last year, general manager Zach Kleiman flat-out dismissed the idea of trading the All-Star guard, calling it a “fantasy.” Fast forward to now, and the tone has shifted - not with a bang, but with a quiet, calculated pivot that signals the franchise is heading in a very different direction.
While Morant wasn’t moved at the trade deadline, multiple reports suggest Memphis explored the idea and plans to revisit it this summer. When Kleiman addressed the media on Friday, he didn’t offer the same ironclad commitment to Morant’s future in Memphis that he did a year ago. Instead, he emphasized a broader change in the team’s philosophy.
“We’ve been incredibly supportive of Ja for many years,” Kleiman said. “This is about organizational direction, though. This is not about Ja in particular.”
Translation: the Grizzlies aren’t making this personal - they’re making it structural. And when you look at the moves they’ve made over the past year, that message is loud and clear.
Breaking Up the Core
The Grizzlies already dealt Desmond Bane to Orlando last summer. This week, they traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah.
That’s two-thirds of the trio that was supposed to carry Memphis into title contention. Morant is the last piece standing - for now.
Kleiman leaned heavily on the phrase “organizational direction” throughout his media availability, using it to frame not only the potential shift with Morant but also the rationale behind moving Jackson. The front office appears to be resetting the foundation, and that means reimagining who this team is built around.
Despite the swirling speculation, Kleiman pushed back on the idea that the relationship between Morant and the franchise has soured.
“I think we’ve been incredibly supportive of Ja,” he reiterated. “Because Ja is Ja, there’s a lot of attention paid to Ja and everything around him.
I honestly think a lot of it is overblown. I’ve had open, constructive, honest conversations with Ja and his camp and I’m going to continue to.”
So while the writing may be on the wall, the Grizzlies aren’t slamming the door shut on Morant - at least not publicly. But they are clearly preparing for a future that may not include him.
Building Around the Next Wave
If this is the end of the Morant era, the Grizzlies are already planting the seeds for what comes next. Kleiman made it clear: the team is turning the page and building around a younger, grittier core.
He pointed to players like Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Cam Spencer - not household names yet, but players who fit the mold Memphis wants to embody.
“I’m not going to sit here and crown any of them,” Kleiman said. “But we have a critical mass of players that fit the identity that we’re going for. They’re tough-minded, they’re physically tough, they’re unselfish, and they play the right way.”
That identity - gritty, smart, team-first basketball - has long been a Memphis trademark. Now, the front office is doubling down on it as they look to climb back into contention.
One player to watch in that mix is Walter Clayton, a 2025 first-round pick acquired in the Jackson deal. Kleiman singled him out as someone who checks all the boxes Memphis is looking for: physically tough, mentally sharp, and a proven winner.
Not a Full Rebuild - At Least Not Yet
Despite the flurry of moves and the youth movement underway, Kleiman was adamant this isn’t a “five-year, try-to-be-terrible” type of rebuild. The Grizzlies are trying to thread the needle - resetting the roster without bottoming out.
“Between the assets that we’ve accumulated and the players that we have, we’re very optimistic about what we have,” Kleiman said.
In other words, Memphis isn’t tanking - they’re retooling. And with draft capital, young talent, and some flexibility, they believe they can stay competitive while reshaping the roster.
Roster Moves and What’s Next
The Grizzlies opened up a roster spot by waiving Eric Gordon on Friday, and Kleiman confirmed they’re actively discussing how to use it. With Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke still recovering from injuries, frontcourt depth is a clear area of need.
New additions Walter Clayton, Kyle Anderson, and Taylor Hendricks are expected to be available for Friday’s game against Portland. For Anderson, it’s a homecoming - he played for Memphis from 2018 to 2022 and brings a familiar presence to a locker room that’s seen a lot of turnover.
The Bottom Line
The Grizzlies aren’t just tweaking around the edges - they’re reshaping their identity. The trades of Bane and Jackson, the uncertainty around Morant, and the emphasis on young, tough-minded players all point to a franchise in transition.
Memphis isn’t waving the white flag, but they are clearly pivoting. Whether that pivot leads to a quick resurgence or a longer rebuild depends on how well this new core develops - and whether or not Ja Morant remains part of the picture. For now, the Grizzlies are keeping their options open and their eyes on the future.